Bet on Intel Extreme Masters 2026
Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) is a premier esports tournament, a major event in the pro gaming world. The IEM trophy is highly coveted, making it a big deal for esports teams worldwide.
The Intel Extreme Masters includes smaller events leading to a massive final with huge prize pools. For the 2022 and 2023 finals, the prize pool was one million dollars.
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Everything You Need to Know About Intel Extreme Masters
A Look Back at the History
The Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) tournament series kicked off in 2006. The very first IEM finals took place from March 15th to March 18th, 2007. Since then, a grand final has been held every single year, making it a long-standing tradition in esports.
Key Partnerships and Organisers
Intel is the main sponsor for the Intel Extreme Masters. However, the IEM is organised and run by the Electronic Sports League (ESL). ESL, which is owned by Turtle Entertainment, stands as one of the world's largest professional gaming leagues. Other notable sponsors that have supported IEM include Acer Predator, GG.bet, Paysafecard, DHL, MTN, and DEW AMP Game Fuel.
Global Tournament Locations
As a global tournament series, the Intel Extreme Masters stages its events across the world. The prestigious grand final typically calls Katowice, Poland, home. However, qualifying stages and regional tournaments often take place in various international locations, including cities like Chicago, Shanghai, and Sydney.
Games Featured at IEM
Initially, Counter-Strike 1.6 was the sole game featured in the Intel Extreme Masters lineup. Over time, however, several other popular video games were introduced to IEM. The tournament continues to evolve, with new games being added and some older titles being phased out.
The roster of games that have been part of IEM, either historically or currently, includes Counter-Strike 1.6, Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos, Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne, World of Warcraft, Quake Live, and StarCraft II, and League of Legends. Currently, the main focus for IEM is Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO).
All About CS: GO for Ghanaian Players
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, or CS: GO, is a highly popular multiplayer first-person shooter available on PC. Although CS: GO was initially a paid game, it has since transitioned to a free-to-play model, meaning anyone can jump in and play without any initial cost.
Globally, CS: GO is one of the most played first-person shooter titles, boasting millions of active players. On platforms like Steam, you can consistently find hundreds of thousands of concurrent players enjoying the game.
CS: GO's Development Journey
CS: GO represents the latest chapter in the celebrated Counter-Strike series, which first emerged in 2000. Developed by industry giants Valve and Hidden Path Entertainment, both renowned for their contributions to gaming, CS: GO is published by Valve.
The development of CS: GO began in March 2010, following an attempt by Hidden Path Entertainment to adapt Counter-Strike: Source for consoles. The game was officially unveiled on August 12th, 2011, and ultimately released to the public on August 21st, 2012.
The Thriving CS: GO Esports Scene
CS: GO is celebrated for its highly competitive nature, largely due to its sophisticated ranking system that accurately assesses player skill levels. This has fueled the growth of a massive esports ecosystem around CS: GO. Today, its esports scene is one of the largest globally, with major events held annually.
Why IEM is a Top Choice for Betting in Ghana
For those in Ghana looking to get into CS: GO betting, the Intel Extreme Masters events are highly recommended. These esports tournaments are among the most popular for wagers, and there are several compelling reasons why.
The primary reason is that IEM is itself one of the most prestigious and popular series of tournaments for CS: GO. As mentioned, it's a premier event that attracts all the top teams vying for the grand finals. For Ghanaian bettors, this means high-quality matches to follow.
Due to this immense popularity, nearly all bookmakers provide betting options for IEM events. You won't need to search far and wide to find platforms offering IEM betting markets. Furthermore, the high profile of IEM events leads bookmakers to offer a wide array of betting markets, providing greater variety for Ghanaian bettors.
Given that IEM is a top-tier event, the best CS: GO teams compete with their A-game, aiming for the grand final trophy. This intensity often results in spectacular plays, incredible defuses, and clutch moments witnessed in IEM matches. All these factors combine to make the betting experience exceptionally thrilling for players in Ghana.
IEM Champions and Memorable Moments
To date, over 60 major IEM events have been held, with finals hosted in prominent global locations like Dallas, Katowice, and Melbourne.
Some of the most dominant teams in the CS: GO esports arena have participated and emerged victorious in these events. Their wins have cemented their status as world-class competitors.
These tournaments have also delivered unforgettable moments, from stunning defuse plays to incredible clutches and precise headshots. Below is a recap of IEM championship winners and some of the most iconic moments in IEM CS: GO history.
Past IEM Event Winners
- Team Pentagram
- Fnatic
- mousesports
- SK Gaming
- Fnatic
- mousesports
- e-STRO
- mibr
- wNv Teamwork
- mTw
- Fnatic
- mousesports
- SK Gaming
- Fnatic
- Evil Geniuses
- mousesports
- WeMade FOX
- Natus Vincere
- Fnatic
- compLexity Gaming
- Fnatic
- Natus Vincere
- Fnatic
- SK Gaming
- Natus Vincere
- ESC Gaming
- Team Envy
- Natus Vincere
- The MongolZ
- Fnatic
- Ninjas in Pyjamas
- Astralis
- SK Gaming
- Ninjas in Pyjamas
- Fnatic
- FaZe Clan
- NRG Esports
- Astralis
- Astralis
- Team Liquid
- Team Liquid
- Astralis
- Natus Vincere
- FaZe Clan
- FURIA Esports
- Virtus.pro
- Team Vitality
- Chaos Esports Club
- Renegades
- ViCi Gaming
- Astralis
- Gambit Esports
- Gambit Esports
- Natus Vincere
- Renegades
- Gambit Esports
- Bravos Gaming
- Ninjas in Pyjamas
- TYLOO
- FURIA Esports
- Team Vitality
- FaZe Clan
- Cloud9
- FaZe Clan
Biggest Moments In IEM CS: GO History
IEM events are filled with insane and memorable moments where professional CS: GO players show extreme skill and game sense. Here are our top picks for the best moments in IEM CS: GO history.
180 Pistol Killshot by Hiko
In the first pistol round of Dust2 between Cloud9 and Ninjas in Pyjamas, Hiko was the only one left from Cloud9 to defend against four players from Ninjas in Pyjamas. Hiko makes his way towards double doors, not knowing that there is a player waiting for him behind the right door.
As soon as Hiko crosses the double door, the player starts shooting, and within an instant, Hiko does a 180 and shoots that player in the head. The 180 was so fast that you could miss it with just one blink. It is also one of the most replayed moments in IEM CS: GO history.
Pasha's Four Kills in Four Seconds
PashaBiceps was the only one holding the Arch at Inferno as four players from Fnatic tried to push him. However, he managed to gun down all four players in just one burst. This is arguably one of the fastest four kills ever seen in CS: GO esports history.
Where and How To Bet On Intel Extreme Masters?
To bet on Intel Extreme Masters matches, you will need to find an online bookmaker that offers betting markets for them. Fortunately for you, almost all bookmakers that cover esports offer betting markets for IEM matches.
However, not all of them are great, and some might even scam you. To avoid ending up on an untrusted betting site that might scam you, check out esportranker.com, where some of the top betting sites are reviewed thoroughly.
You can pick any site from esportranker.com without being worried about getting scammed. All platforms at esportranker.com are tested specifically for scams.
With that said, you will have to pick a platform yourself because it will greatly depend on your personal preference. Once you have picked out a platform, all you have to do is sign up to the platform and make some deposits worth the amount you wish to make bets with.
After that, check out the schedule for IEM matches and find betting markets on the platform when your preferred match is about to take place. Once that's done, simply take a look at the csgo betting odds and place your bet. You should wait for major events like the IEM grand finals, which is where most of the excitement is.
