IEM Global Challenge to be held online

ESL has scrapped plans to host the $500,000 tournament as a LAN event as the coronavirus pandemic continues to ravage Europe.

ESL has announced that it is transitioning this year's IEM Global Challenge from an in-person event to an online tournament. The decision comes with little surprise as countries across Europe are increasing lockdown measures after being swept by a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

ESL had hoped to host the event in Cologne to end the year on a high note after months of online-only tournaments. But on October 29, Germany announced that a partial lockdown would begin in November, immediately casting doubt on the possibility of safely hosting the event in a LAN environment.

“In light of the rising infection numbers of Covid-19 across Europe, we have decided to move the tournament online," Michal "Carmac" Blicharz, vice-president of pro gaming at ESL, said in a statement. "We would have loved to have brought everyone together for this tournament, but we are obligated to act responsibly towards the players and the staff working at our events."

The IEM Global Challenge will still be held between December 15 and 20, with the total prize pool remaining $500,000. Due to the fact that it will feature the best teams in Europe and North America and that it will close out the year, it will count towards the Intel Grand Slam.

Currently, two teams are qualified for the Global Challenge event, HEROIC and FURIA, who won the latest Regional Major Ranking events in Europe and North America, respectively. A spot for each region is up for grabs in the IEM Beijing-Haidian tournaments, while the final four teams will be decided by the ESL ranking.

The IEM Global Challenge team list will look as below: