The ESL FACEIT Group revealed Monday that Chengdu will be the host city for the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) in China from April 8-14.

Sixteen teams will compete for a share of the $250,000 prize pool, and the final three days of the competition will be held live at Wuliangye Chengdu Performing Arts Centre.

The event will begin with two groups of eight competing in the Group Stage over the first three days.

Confirmed teams include Astralis, Cloud9, Complexity, FaZe Clan, FURIA Esports, G2 Esports, HEROIC, Monte, MOUZ, Virtus.pro and Chinese Closed Qualifier winners, Lynn Vision Gaming. The remaining five teams will be determined through a set of regional online Open and Closed Qualifiers. The winning teams from Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Oceania will earn spots into IEM Chengdu 2024.

The winning team will earn a direct spot in the IEM Cologne 2024 Group Stage.

IEM Chengdu 2024 will mark the first major international CS:GO competition in the country since before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re thrilled to be bringing Intel Extreme Masters back to China for the first time since 2019,” said Marc Winther, Head of Game Ecosystems, Counter-Strike at ESL FACEIT Group. “China’s esports community is renowned for its vibrancy and passion, and we’re eager to showcase this as well as emerging talent from the region on a global scale. This return to China reaffirms our commitment to fostering esports growth in the region and recognizes the immense support from Chinese gamers.”

–Field Level Media