The Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) is a series of international esports tournaments held in countries around the world. These Electronic Sports League (ESL) sanctioned events, sponsored by Intel, as of 2024 currently host events in Counter-Strike 2 and StarCraft II. Other game titles were hosted in the past. The body that owns the league is Turtle Entertainment. The League has operated 17 seasons as of 2023. The highest tier of events, known as Masters Championships, are held in the summer in Cologne, Germany and in the new year in Katowice, Poland and offer the most prize money. Other events, known as Masters events, are held in numerous cities around the globe, which have included Dallas, Shanghai and Sydney.
Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2013
Fan Expo at Intel Extreme Masters Toronto 2014
Esports, short for electronic sports, is a form of competition using video games. Esports often takes the form of organized, multiplayer video game competitions, particularly between professional players, played individually or as teams.
Players competing in a League of Legends tournament
Attendees of the 1981 Space Invaders Championships attempt to set the highest score.
Players competing the first QuakeCon in 1996
The League of Legends World Championship is an annual League of Legends tournament that rotates its venues around the world.