Countdown to IEM Gyeonggi

Riot·Dec 12, 2016·1 votes·19,334 views

Intel Extreme Masters is heading across the Pacific Ocean to bring you more offseason action this month.

IEM Season 11 continues in Goyang, South Korea with its second event. Eight international League of Legends teams will do battle starting on Tuesday, December 13 (PST). If this is your first IEM or you need to catch up on the changes coming to IEM Gyeonggi, read on:

What is IEM Gyeonggi?

On their 11th season, Intel Extreme Masters is the longest running global pro gaming tour in the world. Europe’s Unicorns of Love won this season’s first event, IEM Oakland, last month. IEM Gyeonggi will take place December 13-17 and pit eight international teams against each other in front of an audience at the Goyang Sports Complex.

Why does it matter?

Teams at IEM Gyeonggi are competing for a prize pool of $100,000 USD. Here’s the breakdown of prize money distribution:

1st place: $50,000
2nd place: $20,000
3rd-4th place: $10,000
5th-6th place: $3,500
7th-8th place: $1,500

The IEM Gyeonggi champions will also qualify for the crowning event at IEM Katowice at Spodek Arena in March 2017.

What’s the format of IEM Gyeonggi?

IEM Gyeonggi will begin with a double elimination Group Stage taking place December 13-14. Two groups of four teams will face off, with the top two teams from each group advancing. The Knockout Stage will take place December 15-17. The four remaining teams will play in two Best of 3 Semifinal matches, with the winners doing battle in a Best of 5 Grand Final.

What’s the schedule?

Note: All dates and times are in Los Angeles local time or Pacific Standard Time (PST). Match times listed below are estimates pending previous game length.

Tuesday, December 13 - Groups:

4:30 PM - Broadcast begins
5:00 PM - Group A, Match #1
6:20 PM - Group A, Match #2
7:40 PM - Group A, Winners’ Match (Bo3)
11:10 PM - Group A, Elimination Match (Bo3)
2:40 AM - Group A, Decider Match (Bo3)

Wednesday, December 14 - Groups:

4:30 PM - Broadcast begins
5:00 PM - Group B, Match #1
6:20 PM - Group B, Match #2
7:40 PM - Group B, Winners’ Match (Bo3)
11:10 PM - Group B, Elimination Match (Bo3)
2:40 AM - Group B, Decider Match (Bo3)

Thursday, December 15 - Semifinal #1:

6:15 PM - Broadcast begins
6:45 PM - Semifinal #1 (Bo3)

Friday, December 16 - Semifinal #2:

6:00 PM - Broadcast begins
6:30 PM - Semifinal #2 (Bo3)

Saturday, December 17 - Final:

11:20 PM - Broadcast begins
11:40 PM - Final (Bo5)

[[{"fid":"23665","view_mode":"centered","fields":{"format":"centered","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":""},"tagName":"IMG","src":"http%3A//admin.prod.lolesports.com/s3/files/styles/centered/public/iemgyeonggitrophy1.jpg%3Fitok%3Drk0uohEs","type":"media","attributes":{"class":"media-element file-centered","height":"661","width":"992"}}]]

Where is IEM Gyeonggi taking place?

On December 13-14, matches will take place at the OGN Studio. On December 15-17, matches will take place live in front of an audience at the Goyang Sports Complex in Goyang, South Korea.

What teams are participating?

Immortals
Team Liquid
Giants Gaming
Vega Squadron
Dark Passage
Kongdoo Monster
J Team
Samsung Galaxy

What patch will IEM Gyeonggi be on?

IEM Gyeonggi will be played on patch 6.23.

[[{"fid":"23664","view_mode":"centered","fields":{"format":"centered","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":""},"tagName":"IMG","src":"http%3A//admin.prod.lolesports.com/s3/files/styles/centered/public/iemgyeonggitrophy2.jpg%3Fitok%3DLZWkDOH8","type":"media","attributes":{"class":"media-element file-centered","height":"558","width":"992"}}]]

How can I watch IEM Gyeonggi?

The IEM Gyeonggi broadcast will be available on Lolesports.

The IEM Gyeonggi broadcast begins at 4:30 PM PST on Tuesday, December 13 and continues through Saturday, December 17.

I want to come to IEM Gyeonggi, can I still get tickets?

IEM Gyeonggi tickets are still available here.

I’m attending IEM Gyeonggi, what do I need to know?

For more information on IEM Gyeonggi, head over to the official ESL website. If you have any additional questions about the event, email [email protected].

What’s the next stop for IEM after Gyeonggi?

[[{"fid":"23674","view_mode":"centered","fields":{"format":"centered","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":""},"tagName":"IMG","src":"http%3A//admin.prod.lolesports.com/s3/files/styles/centered/public/iemkatowice_0.jpg%3Fitok%3DUl2VEOkW","type":"media","attributes":{"class":"media-element file-centered","height":"558","width":"992"}}]]

The next stop for IEM will be IEM Katowice in March, where the IEM Season 11 World Champions will be crowned.

Don’t miss any of the battles for the IEM Gyeonggi championship starting on Tuesday, December 13 at 4:30 PM.

25 Comments

TrollFan01Dec 13, 20164 votes

I'm just going to watch to see how IMT and TL do with their new rosters.

Miror BDec 12, 20161 votes

Kinda looking forward to it only because of the new TL/IMT roster acquisitions (codysun/goldenglue), not really going to be a "good" event though as outside of those two teams the rest are looking ridiculously bad, almost EU challenger-level bad.

JOT27Dec 12, 20162 votes

What about Samsung Galaxy? They only got second at worlds.

puneethpaladuguDec 12, 20161 votes

Yeah, that's what I just asked.

puneethpaladuguDec 12, 20163 votes

In what universe is SSG almost EU challenger-level bad?

Miror BDec 13, 20161 votes

{quoted}

In what universe is SSG almost EU challenger-level bad?

(Gonna just reply to both comments in one post) While SSG may "look" like favorites, because they're korean and all, they have a pretty bad track record when it comes to meta shifts (they lost 5 in a row in spring after a major meta/patch shift forced the tank meta, and lost some pretty winnable games going into the LCK summer playoffs). Now there's a major assassin meta happening which, unless they can somehow buck the trend, makes me think that they'll be jettisoned out of the tournament in rather quick fashion.

OHminusDec 13, 20162 votes

But are they EU-Challenger level bad? Their favorite picks like Viktor, Lee Sin, and Jhin are all still meta. You're throwing a huge insult at SSG by calling them EU-Challenger level bad.

GeminiRuneDec 13, 20163 votes

Just because the tournament features teams with untested performance, I don't think it will be that bad. Also eluding to "EU Challenger-level bad" is kind of an insult to the rest of the teams (especially Samsung)

Miror BDec 13, 20161 votes

{quoted}

Just because the tournament features teams with untested performance, I don't think it will be that bad. Also eluding to "EU Challenger-level bad" is kind of an insult to the rest of the teams (especially Samsung)

Yeah, no. I implore you to look deeply into the rosters for this upcoming thing like I did. Basically, giants is starting 2 challenger-level players plus Mightybear who was god-awful for vitality, Vega Squadron/Dark Passage are more or less "bad" wildcard teams, Kongdoo has a bunch of relegation-level korean talent, and J-team/SSG are more or less starting their exact rosters from summer. Aside from the two NA teams, both of which are using rosters that I expect to finish in the top-4 of the spring LCS, the entire thing to me feels a lot like the last IEM where UOL won and celebrated in the only way they know how by immediately firing their JG.

GeminiRuneDec 13, 20161 votes

And yet that is supposed to equate to nothing more than a "bad" tournament overall? Anyone can elaborate on how a player can perform individually but not by a particular team dynamic. Immediately shooting every other team in the foot aside from the ones you're most interested in based off of the reputation and rosters they have is biased. Yeah you expect TL and IMT to perform well. But casting out every other team the way you did just makes your point look very loosely elaborated, especially considering you point out what each team has negatively impacting them.

I do my research whenever I need to or feel like it regarding events like these. At eye test, each team has some kind of weak point that could easily be exploited; most of them being that of player cohesion. On my own eye test given the rosters, these are categories in which I find these teams falling into.

Teams of talent with no stable proof of team performance: GIANTS, Immortals

Teams with talent that has shown both promise and struggle: Liquid (counting TLA), Samsung, J-Team, Dark Passage

Teams with possible momentum in their favor: Kongdoo

Vega Squadron: Vega Squadron (Can't put them anywhere; haven't watched them enough)

Considering that so few even saw UOL winning Oakland, I'm keeping my expectations broad this time around. Each team has something to prove here before they go back to domestic competition in January. That's what will make this a good tournament in my eyes.

OHminusDec 13, 20161 votes

Teams with talent that have showed promise: Samsung. Hello? Did everyone forget that this team took SKT to 5 games in the finals of the World Championship, have arguably the mid with best Viktor in the world (Crown), and a tested veteran JG in Ambition?

Really now.

GeminiRuneDec 13, 20161 votes

{quoted}

Teams with talent that have showed promise: Samsung. Hello? Did everyone forget that this team took SKT to 5 games in the finals of the World Championship, have arguably the mid with best Viktor in the world (Crown), and a tested veteran JG in Ambition?

Really now.

Oh so what you're saying is that apparently everyone is meant to forget the LCK season Samsung. You know...the one where they were definitively a middle of the pack team aside from the start of the summer. Yeah, Worlds and the qualifiers coming up to it were just one point where they got their act together as any team should do regardless. They made it to the finals, that's good. But you get both sides of Samsung in that very finals: promise and struggle.

And I guess while we're on the mention of using generic facts such as "team made it to blank" or "team has blank": who lost to Ever again, thus originally eliminating them from qualifying for this event?

OHminusDec 13, 20162 votes

Decisively middle of the pack? They took games off ROX and were top 4 in LCK (you know, that's pretty good for LCK. The best regional competitive league in League of Legends.) They were 12-6 and were only one series win from tying for 3rd with KT. They were 4 games ahead of Afreeca. Middle of the pack? Really.

You forget that many teams DIDN'T get their act together for Worlds Qualifiers and Worlds itself. You know, like IMT and TL, who are both in this tournament.

How is saying SSG made it to worlds finals a "generic" fact? It's a fact - fact is fact. That was the worlds tournament, while KesPA cup is basically a nothing cup that even SKT doesn't take seriously.

Really. YOUR logic is the one that is flawed and frayed at the edges.

GeminiRuneDec 14, 20161 votes

No. Your logic is flawed and biased. You seem to fall in line with a lot of others and say "Oh! Korea is the overlords! They'll roflstomp everyone any time they feel like it." So what about Longzhu? I feel that you look at what the standings are based off of what single accomplishments a team has. And then you discredit what you want to. And you excuse the higher ladder Korea teams from any negative aspects. And to call me out because I believe they still have weaknesses, that's something I don't feel like going into if you want to claim me unintelligent.

Decisively middle of the pack? They took games off ROX and were top 4 in LCK (you know, that's pretty good for LCK. The best regional competitive league in League of Legends.) They were 12-6 and were only one series win from tying for 3rd with KT. They were 4 games ahead of Afreeca. Middle of the pack? Really.

That's using single references of accomplishment which was not my point at all. If Samsung is sitting at 4th-6th for weeks with edges of 3rd during LCK, especially during the spring, then they are middle of the pack! Doesn't matter if they can take games off the top teams or not. Any and every region has a resultant mid table team capable of poking at the tops of their region. UOL, Machi, Snake, list goes on.

You forget that many teams DIDN'T get their act together for Worlds Qualifiers and Worlds itself. You know, like IMT and TL, who are both in this tournament.

This is initially directed to the fact I said Samsung is one of those teams who has shown promise and struggle. TL is related to this given their roster and already existent team cohesion. IMT is not as they are a fresh roster with untested performance. Before the qualifiers, Samsung didn't look as hot as they did going into it. Qualifiers to Worlds was hands down the pinnacle of the rebuilt Samsung that started as Relegation material in 2015. After Worlds, burnout or not, they still lost a matchup they were believed to win. And the only reason they're in the event anyway is because of accepting ROX Tiger's invite.

How is saying SSG made it to worlds finals a "generic" fact? It's a fact - fact is fact. That was the worlds tournament, while KesPA cup is basically a nothing cup that even SKT doesn't take seriously.

KeSPA Cup is still a tournament nonetheless. Last year people expected SKT to carry that momentum and make a strong showing. That didn't happen. This year, the Korean teams following Worlds did produce time to prepare, and some of them to experiment for the next season. More fans seem to say that it's a nothing tournament because they just seem to find that excuse to protect and shut down anyone who actually watches the tournament and is surprised and impressed or disappointed by the outcomes! You want to take recent record: They made Worlds finals, then they lost to Ever in the Quarterfinals of KeSPA Cup. Which Samsung are we gonna get?!

You say my logic is flawed. No. I just like to see everyone on an even level instead of be a bandwagoner and ride on what the best that a team has going for them, even if it was months passed. I say again: in my opinion, Samsung is a team with talent that has shown both promise and struggle. Which one are we going to get at Gyeonggi? End of story! Call me what you want, but you can't say I'm delusional for thinking against your beliefs.

OHminusDec 22, 20161 votes

...and you were saying about SSG not showing up?

Can't believe idiots like you exist. Please check the results. What's your explanation this time?

Jax CramerDec 13, 20164 votes

What challenger level players is Giants starting?

Also SSG is 10 times better than both of your NA teams lmfao.

End of the DreamDec 16, 20161 votes

10x better? I don't think that is quite accurate. Samsung is definitely a strong team that is for sure, however, NA actually showed up fairly impressively at worlds. These new rosters for TL and IMT may not be amazing at the moment, they are brand new and have a ton of potential. Having said all of that, will Samsung probably win? Absolutely. Will it be a complete stomp? Maybe. That, however does not mean they are 10x better. I appreciate your opinion, and you are definitely entitled to it, I think you may want to consider this from a different perspective.

Jax CramerDec 16, 20161 votes

Yes they are 10 times better. Out of 100 best of 5 series vs Liquid or Immortals they would win 100. There is a reason SSG made 2nd place at worlds almost beating SKT.

OHminusDec 13, 20162 votes

SSG is more or less starting their exact same roster from summer... which is the team that took 2nd in the world championships and undoubtedly at least the 3rd best team at that point. Come again?

JangbolsalDec 18, 20161 votes

Wow that Geminirune guy sure knows lot about logic and yet.. SAMSUNG and Kongdoo IEM finals lol

BenjDec 13, 20161 votes

%%%%%...what?

Did you just say that J-Team and SSG look "almost EU challenger-level bad". Like damn, son. I know historically SSG has struggled on major patch changes, but I would say the lane swap patch was a pretty major one (and the most recent) that they adapted well to. They're easily the best team going in to this. J-Team might have dropped the ball at the very end, but you gotta imagine they're gonna come out swinging. They were the best team in the regular season LMS - so it's pretty awful to say they're "EU challenger-level bad".

JangbolsalDec 18, 20161 votes

Never Bet Against The Koreans- SAMSUNG vs KONGDOO finals lol

III BAKURYU III Dec 13, 20161 votes

Wasn't CLG supposed to have been in 1 of these events? ;[ I really like CLG as they seem to not only get 0 respect with all the #2 NA team memes and jokes but yet they always seem to do good in these international events.

GeminiRuneDec 13, 20161 votes

CLG was intended to be here for Gyeonggi while IMT was for Oakland. I believe it was Stixxay who first announced they were not attending. It's a shame, but when you consider the amount of competition CLG took on this year, it's understandable.

III BAKURYU III Dec 13, 20161 votes

sigh........ man gotta wait like a year to watch CLG again ;[