IEM Rio Major 2022 to be held from October to November, ESL announces

ESL Gaming announced Tuesday that Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Rio Major 2022 would run from October 31 to November 13. A live audience will attend the Champions Stage at the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro. This will be the first time a CS:GO major takes place in Brazil and South America.

The Jeunesse Arena, which has a capacity of 15,000 for sporting events, has hosted many Esports tournaments, including the 2018 Rainbow Six Siege Season 8 Pro League finals and the 2017 League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational.

Dexerto first reported the possibility of ESL holding the IEM Rio 2022 Major in January 2022, making it one of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive’s worst-kept secrets. In addition to the recent PGL Major Antwerp 2022, where FaZe Clan took home the trophy, this will be the second major of the year.

A major was originally scheduled two years ago in the spring of 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, put the plans on hold. PGL Stockholm ultimately brought the tournament back in late 2021. This 2022 Major is slated to replace ESL One. This will mark the 10th major in the league’s history since DreamHack Winter, the ESL’s first CS:GO major in 2013.

ESL said earlier this year that it wanted to make its way back to Rio in 2022. Fans who did not refund their tickets for the postponed 2020 event can use the tickets for the 2022 event instead.

“We couldn’t be more excited to finally bring the major to Rio de Janeiro,” SVP product management of ESL Gaming Ulrich Schulze said in a press release. “The ever-growing and passionate Brazilian esports community is amazing and for the past couple of years we have been hoping to provide the fans with one of the greatest esports experiences ever.”

More on IEM Rio 2022

A Swiss-style Challengers phase, followed by Legends and single-elimination playoffs, will be used in the major, similar to the format of PGL Major Antwerp. The Legends, Challengers, and Contenders are determined by regional RMR events.

In the Challengers Stage, 16 Challengers and Contenders will face off against each other. Eight teams will advance to join the Legends in the Legends Stage, followed by eight teams that compete in the single-elimination bracket in the Champions Stage. One million dollars will be up for grabs at the tournament.

IEM Rio 2022 marks the 18th CS:GO major since 2013 and the 10th major hosted by ESL. Astralis won their third major in a row at the IEM Katowice Major in 2019, which was ESL’s last major hosting gig.

Brazil took part in three out of four major grand finals between 2016 and 2017, winning two straight trophies at MLG Columbus and ESL One Cologne with the Luminosity/SK Gaming team. A Brazilian team has qualified for the playoffs in every major since 2015 except in StarLadder Berlin.

IEM Rio 2022 will be the first CS:GO major in South America. Brazil is home to one of Counter-Strike’s most dedicated fan bases. Brazilian fans are expected to generate significant viewership and a lively live audience.

Ticket sales for IEM Rio 2022 will commence on May 25 at 1 PM ET. Anyone who still has the ESL One ticket will be able to use it for entry to IEM Rio 2022.