HLTV.org live from Chicago

HLTV.org is now live from the Windy City, where IEM Chicago is getting underway.

Sixteen teams have gathered in Chicago, where $250,000 are up for grabs. The group stage, which just kicked off, is made up of two pools of eight teams. A best-of-three double elimination bracket will be played (with best-of-one opening matches being the exception), from which the top team in each group will go directly to the semi-finals, while the #2 and #3 teams will play a four-team quarter-final.

MVP PK will face Astralis in their opening match

Nine of the top 10 teams in the world, including Astralis, Natus Vincere, and Liquid, will be present in Chicago, where they will be joined by a handful of eager competitors from around the world, such as MVP PK, eUnited, Luminosity, or LDLC. Two Danish teams will be kicking off the tournament, slated to start at 19:00 , as Astralis take on MVP PK and North face off against NRG.

If you want to know more about the event and the teams in it you can read our feature about AVANGAR, the Five key storylines of IEM Chicago, and the viewer's guide, where you can get a rundown of the schedule, talent list, and other information about the tournament.

Finally, don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date with the tournament, as we'll be posting updates regularly on social media as the events unfold.