Countdown to IEM Oakland

Riot·Nov 14, 2016·1 votes·29,635 views

Who is ready to watch some competitive action this offseason?

The Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Season 11 will touch down in Oakland, CA featuring a League of Legends tournament with six international teams starting on Saturday, November 19. If this is your first IEM or need to catch up on the changes coming to IEM Oakland this weekend, read on:

What is IEM Oakland?

On their 11th season, Intel Extreme Masters is the longest running global pro gaming tour in the world. IEM Oakland will feature six teams facing off in an international League of Legends tournament on November 19-20 live in front of an audience at the Oracle Arena.

Why does it matter?

Teams at IEM Oakland are competitive 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: $5,000

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

What teams are participating?

Flash Wolves (LMS)
Unicorns of Love (EU LCS)
INTZ (CBLoL)
Chiefs (OPL)
TSM (NA LCS)
Longzhu Gaming (LCK)

What’s the format of IEM Oakland?

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IEM Oakland will be a single elimination bracket starting with a Quarterfinal Stage consisting of four teams in Best of 3 matches. The two winners will proceed to face the Semifinalists who have been seeded based on Worlds 2016 results and regional record. The winners of the Best of 3 Semifinals will face off in a Best of 5 Grand Final.

What’s the schedule?

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

Saturday, November 19 - Playoffs:

10:00 AM - Broadcast begins
10:45 AM - Quarterfinal 1
2:25 PM - Showmatch
3:45 PM - Quarterfinal 2

Sunday, November 20 - Playoffs:

9:30 AM - Broadcast begins
10:00 AM - Semifinal 1
1:30 PM - Semifinal 2
5:00 PM - Grand Finals (Bo5)

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Where is IEM Oakland taking place?

Matches will be live in front of an audience at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, CA on November 19-20.

What patch will IEM Oakland be on?

Patch 6.21

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How can I watch IEM Oakland?

The IEM Oakland broadcast will be available on Lolesports.

The IEM Oakland broadcast begins at 10:00 AM PT on Saturday, November 19. The broadcast will start at 9:30 AM PT on Sunday, November 20.

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

IEM Oakland tickets are still available here.

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

Check out the IEM Oakland FAQ for more information about attending the event. If you have any additional questions about the event, email [email protected]

What’s the next stop for IEM after Oakland?

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The next stop for IEM will be IEM Gyeonggi on December 16-18. This year’s IEM Season will conclude at IEM Katowice to be IEM Season 11 World Champions.

Don’t miss any of the battles for the IEM Oakland championship starting on Saturday, November 19 at 10:00 AM PT.

20 Comments

ElectricAlienNov 14, 20164 votes

"...Semifinalists who have been seeded based on Worlds 2016 results and regional record." All 3 Korean teams finish top 4 and they don't get anything. lol

Panman18Nov 16, 20161 votes

It's not based on region, it based on the teams themselves. The other korean teams declined to participate.

bunuchyNov 16, 20161 votes

They're busy bec of the kesha cup so they asked the closest team available

DblBaconChseBrgrNov 14, 20162 votes

would love to be able to go to a pro LoL event. maybe one could be in the south soon, Houston or even New Orleans?

JoltforceNov 15, 20161 votes

Birmingham would be awesome...

JangbolsalNov 15, 20162 votes

Why is Longzhu gaming participating this tournament? They barely missed LCK relegation match by two wins. Seriously, why wouldn't you pick KT, Samsung etc

secretsnipp3rNov 15, 20164 votes

Longzhu were the only LCK team that they could get to attend, many teams declined an invitation to this tournament in order to better prepare for the spring split or give their players and staff a chance to rest.

OtastaNov 15, 20161 votes

It is due to the KESPA cup that the LCK teams participate in. Qualifications for IEM Oakland and Gyeonggi (which will be in Korea) for the LCK are based on the KESPA cup. So long story short, out of the teams that are eliminated from KESPA early, they invite the best team among them. IEM invited the Afreeca Freecs, but they declinded, and Longzhu was the other team in line.

Miror BNov 15, 20162 votes

6 teams enter, and everyone leaves thoroughly bored because it isn't the kespa cup and thus isn't really worth watching!

bunuchyNov 16, 20161 votes

They should've at least played in patch 6.22 to make it interesting...

TrollFan01Nov 15, 20161 votes

TSM ZUNA FTW!

Clouded SkiesNov 15, 20161 votes

GG??

UrfgotNov 16, 20161 votes

Why is it being played on patch 6.21 and not 6.22? Patch 6.22 would be a lot more entertaining to watch; Bjergsen even questioned what the point of it is if this tournament is being played on 6.21.

Star PlatinumELONov 16, 20161 votes

good thinking guys, play your tournament in the protest ridden area's of California. No safety concerns there amirite.

StradNov 18, 20161 votes

Since when is a protest unsafe? They're PROTESTING not RIOTING. [zombie-brand-mindblown]

Star PlatinumELONov 18, 20161 votes

the mass of people cluttering the street for the protest and those going to the tournament, I can see the car accidents happening a mile away

[slayer-jinx-unamused]

StradNov 19, 20161 votes

If they are cluttering the street, then traffic has stopped. That means cars are not moving. You don't know how the real world works lmao

Edit: They had no way of knowing there would be protests going on when they planned this event forever ago lol. You just want something to complain about because it isn't close to your hometown xD [slayer-jinx-catface]