iBUYPOWER Summer 2016 Overwatch invitational announced

64 amateur teams will face off to see who will have the chance to face off against the top teams in America and a shot at a $5,000 prize pool!

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The iBUYPOWER Sumer 2016 Overwatch Invitational begins this Sunday, featuring an open bracket of 64 teams, eight invited teams, and $5,000 of prize money. There will also be a viewing party for the championship bracket, taking place on July 16^th and 17^th at the eSports Arena in Santa Ana, California. This tournament features a unique format, where the eight invited teams will face off in a single elimination best of 5 (BO5) bracket against the top eight finishers from the open bracket.

The invited teams include:
 

• EnVyUs
• Cloud9
• Luminosity Gaming
• Northern Gaming Red
• Gale Force eSports
• Team Liquid
• Splyce
• FaZe Clan

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Registration for the open bracket is free, but is only open until July 8^th at 11:59 PM ET and is limited to the first 64 teams so be sure to go register soon if you want a chance to take on some of the top teams in the world! 

REGISTRATION:
Teams can register here, but hurry, registration ends at 11:59 PM ET on Friday, July 8^th.

RULES:
Complete rules can be found here, but here is an overview:
 

• Competitive rule set will be used
• No hero limit
• Teams will be able to ban maps until three maps are left for a BO3 or five maps are left in a BO5

WATCH:
The entire tournament will be streamed at Twitch.tv/ibuypowerow
There will also be a live viewing party for championship bracket play at the eSports Arena in Santa Ana, California.

WHEN:
Preliminary bracket:
 

• Round of 64 will begin on Sunday, July 10^th at 8:30 PM ET / 5:30 PM PT
• Round of 32 will begin on Tuesday, July 12^th at 8:30 PM ET / 5:30 PM PT
• Round of 16 will begin on Thursday, July 14^th at 8:30 PM ET / 5:30 PM PT

 

Championship Bracket:
Starting on July 16^th, play will begin with the top sixteen teams - eight from the preliminary bracket and eight invited teams.

Saturday, July 16^th:
 

• Round of 16: 2:30 PM ET / 11:30 AM PT
• Round of 8 - Game #1: 4:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM PT
• Round of 8 - Game #2: 5:30 PM ET / 2:30 PM PT
• Round of 8 - Game #3: 7:00 PM ET / 4:00 PM PT
• Round of 8 - Game #4: 8:30 PM ET / 5:30 PM PT

Sunday, July 17^th:
 

• Round of 4 - Game #1: 3:30 PM ET / 12:30 PM PT
• Round of 4 - Game #2: 5:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM PT
• 3rd Place Decider Match: 6:30 PM ET / 3:30 PM PT
• Grand Finals: 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT

For more competitive OW news, follow @GosuOverwatch.