ICE Challenge groups, initial matchups, talent announced

The organizers of ICE Challenge have announced the group stage distribution, opening matchups, and full talent lineup of the $250,000 tournament.

The group stage of the tournament will be played in a best-of-three GSL format during the first two days of the event (February 1-2). Each group will see three teams advance to the single-elimination playoffs (February 4-6).

As the highest-ranked team of all the participants, MOUZ headline Group A, where they will be challenged by three teams ranked between the 16th-19th spot, HEROIC, Virtus.pro, and MAD Lions.

Group B features a wider variety of teams when it comes to their position in the world ranking, with the other top-ten side in attendance, Natus Vincere, being joined ENCE, GODSENT, and OG.

The group distribution looks as follows:

The second group sets up a mouth-watering first-ever clash between ENCE, who in large part struggled for good results after replacing Aleksi "⁠Aleksib⁠" Virolainen with Miikka "⁠suNny⁠" Kemppi in September, and their former in-game leader's OG.

The London tournament will mark the second appearance of the squad around Nathan "⁠NBK-⁠" Schmitt, who made their debut at cs_summit 5 in December, finishing in third-fourth place after a close loss to MOUZ in the semi-finals.

The opening matchups are:

MOUZ vs. MAD Lions
HEROIC vs. Virtus.pro
Natus Vincere vs. GODSENT
ENCE vs. OG

Finally, the talent lineup has been revealed as well, and it looks as follows:

Tres "stunna" Saranthus - Desk host
Halvor "vENdetta" Gulestøl - Analyst
Jacob "Pimp" Winneche - Analyst

Matthew "Sadokist" Trivett - Commentator
Henry "HenryG Greer - Commentator