IEM Sydney: A Look at the Underdogs Competing in the $250,000 Tournament
IEM Sydney, the highly anticipated esports tournament, is just around the corner. With a prize pool of $250,000, this event promises to be one of the most exciting tournaments of the year. What sets IEM Sydney apart is the presence of numerous underdog teams who have a chance to make a name for themselves on the international stage.
Starting on May 1, 16 squads from around the world will battle it out in the land down under. The initial stage will feature GSL-style groups, where teams will compete in best-of-one matches to secure a spot in the playoffs. From these groups, eight teams will advance, with two emerging victorious from the upper bracket and one surviving the dreaded lower bracket.
The first place finishers from each group will advance to the semifinals, giving them time to prepare. Meanwhile, the remaining playoff contenders will battle it out in the quarterfinals. The quarterfinals will involve two best-of-three matches held on May 4, followed by the semifinals on the next day, and the grand finale on May 6.
Let’s take a closer look at the groups for IEM Sydney:
Group A
– FaZe Clan vs. ORDER
– Renegades vs. Legacy Esports
– Cloud9 vs. Grayhound
– SK Gaming vs. TyLoo
Group B
– Mousesports vs. BOOT-d[S]
– Astralis vs. NRG Esports
– G2 Esports vs. MVP PK
– Fnatic vs. Chiefs Esports Club
In addition to the intense competition, IEM Sydney will also mark the debut of the brand new Dust II map in LAN play. Valve recently replaced Cobblestone with Dust II in the Active Duty map pool, which consists of seven maps played in major tournaments. The new Active Duty pool now includes Dust II, Cache, Inferno, Mirage, Nuke, Overpass, and Train.
Given that IEM Sydney is the first major event since DreamHack Masters Marseille in April, teams will be more determined than ever to dethrone the reigning champions, Astralis. FaZe Clan, Cloud9, SK Gaming, Mousesports, and Fnatic, all previous tournament winners, will be vying for the top spot. However, we shouldn’t underestimate the potential of underdog teams such as G2, TyLoo, Renegades, and NRG, who have the capability to cause upsets. Other lower tier teams, including MVP, BOOT, Grayhound, Chiefs, ORDER, and Legacy, may also surprise us with their performance.
To catch all the exciting matches at IEM Sydney, make sure to tune in to ESL’s Twitch channel. Don’t miss out on the action!
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