Event preview: IEM Hanover on the horizon

It has been one year since Ace (StarCraft 2), Rapha (Quake Live), Na’Vi (Counter Strike) and Counter Logic Gaming (League of Legends) were crowned world champions of the fifth season of Intel Extreme Masters. With March just around the corner and by old IEM tradition, we once again turn our gaze towards Hanover as the time has come for another IEM World Championship tournament.

Now we at GosuGamers, together with our partners from ROCCAT, are packing our bags for Germany as we are soon to plunge in the entangling experience that is Intel Extreme Masters.



A total of three separate disciplines will be held at CeBIT grounds this March - StarCraft 2, Counter Strike 1.6 and League of Legends - united under a total prize pool of $275,000.

PC Gaming's current state - does it need an undertaker or doctor?
In align with CeBIT, the world's largest computer expo, our coverge partner ROCCAT motivate fans to give their opinion on the current state of PC gaming. ROCCAT asks if "PC Gaming needs a doctor", or if it has come this far that what it needs is "an undertaker". Have your say on Isn't-PC-Gaming-Dead.com. Next to the entry form, the company has a clock that is counting down the days to March 6, which is when ROCCAT will announce what they think is "the smartest way forward".

"More than hundred players went through five tournaments"
The StarCraft 2 tournament of IEM is one to always receive high attention from the community and the World Championship, of course, is no exception. To elevate the excitement even more, WC Hanover comes to put an end to the long story of SC2 competition since the first IEM event in Cologne in August 2011. More than hundred players went through five Global Challenge tournaments and one edition of HomeStory Cup to earn their spot among world’s best twenty-four StarCraft 2 contenders. They will be fighting over a prize purse of $75,000, more than three times than last year’s World Championship.

Taking the battle on foreign ground, the non-Koreans have a lot to prove since the Easterners have conquered every single event but IEM Guangzhou (won by EG’ Greg “Idra” Fields). The Western presence, however, is heavily challenged as the Korean contingent has occupied a third of the player pool and with at least two representatives in each group it is hard to imagine a scenario where WC Hanover does not end up with a Korean-dominated playoffs.

"League of Legends shall enjoy its second World Championship"
One of the fastest growing MOBAs League of Legends shall enjoy its second World Championship. Riot Games’ title has grown to be loved by millions of fans, its pro-scene developed rapidly over the course of one year and the streams of each grand final of major tournament are hitting record viewer counts of around 100,000. Since Counter Logic Gaming won the last World Championship, European, North American and Chinese teams have had their fair share of success during Season VI and, consequently, there is a very equal distribution in the final twelve. The Hanover event aims to provide - at least temporarily - the answer to the question of which nation holds unrivalled LoL supremacy.

SK Gaming, Na’Vi, Fnatis, Mouz, Moscow 5 and more in the CS disciple
Of course, there is also the irrevocable presence of Counter Strike 1.6. It’s line-up of twelve teams was completed ten days ago as ESC Gaming and eSahara joined the likes of SK Gaming, Na’Vi, Fnatis, Mouz, Moscow 5 and more.


Stay tuned for a detailed tournament preview for the StarCraft 2 competition in the coming days as well as a coverage portal including all information you will need for the best experience of Intel Extreme Masters.