Intel® Extreme Masters Returns to Oakland With $300,000 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Competition

Top European Teams Astralis and FaZe Clan Confirmed First in the Twelve-Team Line-up

Intel and ESL are bringing the Intel® Extreme Masters (IEM), the longest running global pro gaming circuit, back to the Bay Area this November, marking the fourth time the global esports tournament will be hosted in the region. For the second time, Oracle Arena in Oakland will host teams and fans from around the world for the elite esports competition featuring the world’s best teams in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) on November 18-19, 2017.

The line-up of the top eight CS:GO teams invited to compete at IEM Oakland is headed by two European powerhouses: FaZe Clan and the finalists of the Intel® Extreme Masters World Championship 2017, Astralis. Four additional teams will qualify through a series of online and offline qualifiers that are open to European and North American teams.

“IEM Oakland is becoming the Bay Area’s premier esports event,” said Michal Blicharz, Vice President Pro Gaming at ESL. “It is the fourth time in a row that we bring the world’s best gamers to the West Coast and thousands of fans have made great memories here together with us.”

Last year’s inaugural edition of Intel® Extreme Masters Oakland attracted 6,500 visitors on each of the main event days, while online viewers consumed 6.4 million hours of IEM Oakland content in 14 languages.

“The immediate success of the first Intel Extreme Masters Oakland event last year demonstrates the growing influence of esports and IEM around the world,” said John Bonini, Vice President and General Manager of Esports and Gaming at Intel Corporation. “We’re excited to go back to Oakland in November and make it an even bigger and better event this year.”

The Intel® Grand Slam
The recently announced Intel Grand Slam will award a $1,000,000 bonus prize to the first team that wins four of the last ten competitions in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive in any of the major ESL and DreamHack events. After ESL One Cologne (July 7-9), DreamHack Masters Malmö (August 31 – September 3) and ESL One New York (September 16-17), Intel Extreme Masters Oakland will be the fourth event that will count towards the Intel Grand Slam, making it the first event at which the Grand Slam can be completed.

Intel Expo
In addition to getting up close to the world class esports competitions, IEM delivers memorable gaming experiences to attendees that include a community fan zone where there are team signing sessions, giveaways from partners and sponsors, as well as meet-and-greet opportunities for players and fans. The Intel Expo showcases the latest games and technology, along with Intel’s suite of gaming and VR-ready products, including the new 7th Generation Intel® Core™ processors – led by the new Intel® Core™ i9 processor  – and an array of high end gaming PCs, for those who want to fully immerse themselves in the gaming and esports experience.

Ticket sales
Intel® Extreme Masters Oakland will offer a variety of tickets with different components, ranging from Day Tickets for one of the main event days to Global Elite Experience tickets that include a private lounge, catering, gift bags, backstage tours, and access to exclusive signing sessions.

Previous attendees of any past Intel® Extreme Masters events will have the unique opportunity to purchase discounted IEM Oakland 2017 tickets in a 24-hour pre-sale starting today and tickets will be available to the general public starting tomorrow, June 23, at 12PM PDT. More information about all ticket types can be found at iem.gg/oaklandtickets.

For more information about Intel® Extreme Masters Oakland, head over to iem.gg/oakland2017.

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