Get Ready For Some Incredible CS This Weekend At IEM Katowice

Are you hungry for some top tier CS:GO match ups? If you are, keep an eye out for the 2018 IEM Katowice playoffs happening this weekend from Friday 2nd March, to Sunday 4. The group stages are already wrapped up and we already know the top contenders for the six slots open for the playoffs stage.

There’s $500,000 on the line, with $250,000 going to first place, so all teams are on their top game. Here’s a look at what matchups we can expect to see this weekend.

Teams Taking Part At This Weekend’s IEM Katowice Playoffs

The group stages for IEM Katowice 2018 played out throughout the last week of February – we now know all six teams that’ll be taking part in the playoffs, starting March 2nd.

Here’s a look at the Quarterfinal matchups

The quarterfinals for IEM Katowice 2018 will play throughout March 2. 4 teams will enter, but only 2 teams will go onto the semifinals.

Here’s a look at the matchups.

FaZe Clan vs Cloud9 – Starts March 2, 13:00 CET @ twitch.tv/esl_csgo

FaZe has been struggling a little to compete at their usual top level recently, whilst Cloud9 has been absolutely dominating. This will be an interesting game to watch, especially if you’re routing for the NA team.

Team Liquid vs Ninjas in Pyjamas – Starts March 2, 16:50 CET @ twitch.tv/esl_csgo

What’s this? NiP in a quarterfinals? Yep, it feels like 2016. Well, we’re at least hoping so. Everybody is incredibly excited for this game – it’s the first time both teams have had a good shot at such a huge prize pool.

Onto The Semifinals

Once the action is wrapped up on March 2, teams will be moving onto the semifinal stage. Here’s a look at the matchups.

Two teams from the winner’s bracket, Astralis and Fnatic, will be facing up against the winners of the quarterfinals.

Astralis vs Faze Clan/Cloud9 – March 3, 15:00 CET @ twitch.tv/esl_csgo

Can we get some love for Astralis finishing in the winner’s bracket earlier in the event? No matter who Astralis fights up against, we’re hoping they put up a good fight now that they’re back in fighting shape again.

Fnatic vs Team Liquid/NiP – March 3, 18:50 CET @ twitch.tv/esl_csgo

I know what you’re thinking. Fnatic is already in a semifinal? They did very well earlier in the event to push past Heroic, G2, and even FaZe Clan.

I’d absolutely love to see Fnatic go up against NiP – it would be a nostalgic matchup that everybody would tune into.

The Grand Finals

The Grand Finals will be streamed on March 4, 17:00 CET. It will be a best of five event, so make sure you book the evening off. With six teams still in the tournament, the potential matchup for the grand final could go either way.

Because Fnatic may face NiP in the semifinals and Cloud9 face FaZe in the quarterfinals, there aren’t any major rivalries we’ll get the chance to see.

With that being said, I’m sure the two grand final teams will put up a good fight.