ESL introduces new seeding method for IEM Chicago; groups determined

The draw for the group stage of the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) event in Chicago has been made, with the 16 participating teams having been split into two groups.

ESL has decided to introduce a new seeding method for the North American event called "Player-Selected Seeding", in which the participating sides are asked to create their own ranking of the opposing teams who will partake in the competition.

Astralis are the top seed for IEM Chicago

The scores submitted are then added up to determine the full seeding, creating what the ESL believes to be "an accurate present ranking of all teams participating at the event." To prevent teams from deliberately manipulating the seeding, ESL removed the two votes for each team that were the farthest away from the final average.

The final seeding for event, based on the teams' voting, was the following:

1. Astralis
2. Natus Vincere
3. Liquid
4. FaZe
5. MIBR
6. MOUZ
7. BIG
8. NRG
9. North
10. fnatic
11. AVANGAR
12. Renegades
13. LDLC
14. Luminosity
15. eUnited
16. MVP PK

The teams have been split into the following two groups based on the seeding:

Group A
Astralis
FaZe
MIBR
NRG
North
Renegades
LDLC
MVP PK

Group B
Natus Vincere
Liquid
MOUZ
BIG
fnatic
AVANGAR
Luminosity
eUnited

The group stage will feature a double-elimination format, with best-of-one opening matches followed by best-of-three series in the remaining stages. The group winners will automatically progress to the semi-finals, while the runners-up and the teams coming out of the lower bracket will face off in the quarter-finals for the chance to compete on the main stage of the event.

Both the GSL groups and the first round of the playoffs will be held backstage from November 6-9. The final three matches of the tournament will be played in front of a live crowd at the Wintrust Arena, culminating with the best-of-five title decider on November 11 at 20:00 .