Cloud9, OpTic join IEM Katowice list

OpTic Gaming and Cloud9 have joined the list of participants for the IEM World Championship, ESL has announced.

The North American duo will be joining Astralis, SK, Ninjas in Pyjamas and Virtus.pro in the prestigious $250,000 competition, which will take place from March 1-5.

OpTic had an exciting end to the year, winning ELEAGUE Season 2, finishing in second place at the ECS Season 2 finals and qualifying for the upcoming ELEAGUE Major.


OpTic invited to IEM Katowice 

Cloud9 made waves by winning the ESL Pro League Season 4 Finals, in São Paulo, but they have since been unable to replicate that form and ended up not qualifying for the Major.

Two more teams will be invited by ESL shortly, with the last four spots being determined by online qualifiers, held in Europe and North America. 

The list of participants for the event now look as follows:

Poland Virtus.pro Sweden Ninjas in Pyjamas Denmark Astralis Brazil SK
North America OpTic United States Cloud9 Other Invite #7 Other Invite #8
Europe EU Qualifier #1  Europe EU Qualifier #2 Europe EU Qualifier #3 North America NA Qualifier #1
#1
 | 
Finland Despasiitto
Faze deserve invite over C9.... happy to see Optic tho
2017-01-18 21:28
16 replies
#25
 | 
Europe mlok401
d ??
2017-01-18 21:28
1 reply
#41
 | 
Finland Despasiitto
gud 2 know men)
2017-01-18 21:29
c9 and optic = good commercial teams faze will be invited dont worry. they just invited 2 eu, now 2 na teams just as a formality
2017-01-18 21:32
4 replies
#54
 | 
Finland Despasiitto
Faze probably invited to closed qual Doubt they'll invite Faze over North/Navi
2017-01-18 21:33
3 replies
Navi should be invited for sure. doubt about north but a possibility of course.
2017-01-18 21:36
Told you. Sry for beeing late. was banned until now
2017-01-20 17:13
1 reply
#168
 | 
Finland Despasiitto
yes, you are smart men)
2017-01-20 18:39
#52
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Norway Brrutal
Well, I guess they wanted more american teams, so thats why they got invited. Still 2 more slots for invites, so Faze might get it :)
2017-01-18 21:33
#104
 | 
United States mcbrisket
there's still two more invite slots lol they'll still probably get invited. people wanna watch c9 and optic play though so it was a great invite
2017-01-18 23:19
NiP and C9 are the waste of a spot!
2017-01-19 11:28
2 replies
#155
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
United States Origin503
Yeah man! Those two teams (Ranked in the top ten best teams in the world), are definitely a waste of a spot.... Cant wait for this event, going to be a good one! And yeah, hopefully faze gets an invite!
2017-01-19 16:54
1 reply
They can't even qualify for major against tier 2-3 teams and they are in top 10. Nice logic Americano!
2017-01-20 12:19
I disagree. Cloud9 has played great games in the end of the year.
2017-01-19 13:43
1 reply
#152
 | 
Finland Despasiitto
Kappa
2017-01-19 14:13
#166
 | 
United States CWalker
Don't worry they made it m8
2017-01-20 16:59
CLOUD9 <3
2017-01-18 21:28
#5
 | 
Bulgaria kr9ptonn
bad, 2 trash teams; /
2017-01-18 21:28
10 replies
>Bulgarian scene >calling people trash pick one
2017-01-18 21:29
8 replies
#37
 | 
Bulgaria kr9ptonn
DeludedC9Fanboy - <3 Cloud9 static.hltv.org//images/flag/ca.gif
2017-01-18 21:29
1 reply
kr9ptonxD - <3 Don't Trust Anyone static.hltv.org//images/flag/bg.gif
2017-01-18 21:29
#47
 | 
Hungary Shaperz
DeludedC9Fanboy - <3 Cloud9
2017-01-18 21:30
1 reply
Shaperz - <3 Virtus.pro
2017-01-18 21:30
DeludedC9Fanboy - <3 Cloud9
2017-01-18 23:13
1 reply
Huskmeister - <3 Taco
2017-01-19 01:18
#136
 | 
Laos de_insertion
DeludedC9Fanboy - <3 Cloud9 Shit team noscene. Shroud is also shit nowadays
2017-01-19 08:33
1 reply
Tillbage - <3 Astralis and its almost as if my name and comments are jokes? Typical Dane
2017-01-22 17:58
#140
allu | 
Finland Fherrera
ssshh now
2017-01-19 10:04
Wow, nice! Cloud9 will win this event!
2017-01-18 21:28
4 replies
#87
 | 
Sweden toxicdriver
Hehe. I' be surprised.
2017-01-18 22:35
3 replies
tbh it could happen. all of these teams are practically equal in terms of raw ability to upset each other. it just comes down to the mentality and practice regiment of the c9 guys
2017-01-19 02:57
2 replies
C9 will definitely beat vp. Oh wait
2017-01-19 05:09
1 reply
username checks out
2017-01-21 15:26
#15
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
wrecky | 
Portugal wrecky
Cloud9 not even going to the major but I believe they'll do better than Optic!
2017-01-18 21:28
Nice!
2017-01-18 21:28
n1
2017-01-18 21:28
#20
MICHU | 
Poland hadziun
Wow
2017-01-18 21:28
not fnatic ok
2017-01-18 21:28
9 replies
#94
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Finland coswell
why would fnatic deserve the invite..?
2017-01-18 23:00
8 replies
so you are telling me that bot9 deserve it more?
2017-01-18 23:15
7 replies
#103
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Finland coswell
Well one big win is more impressive than none. The major qualifier was stacked anyways. Not qualifying wasnt the end of the world for c9.
2017-01-18 23:19
6 replies
still fnatic deserves more idiot
2017-01-18 23:19
5 replies
#106
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Finland coswell
Explain, why...? Fnatic hasnt achieved anything with this lineup yet.
2017-01-18 23:20
4 replies
are you kidding me or what? they havent yet play a big tournament to show their full potencial, they were at eleague with jumpy, fnatic is in major. NiP lost fucking 16-2 vs tier 54 team and still invited.
2017-01-18 23:24
3 replies
#109
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Finland coswell
So they should be invited "so they can show their full potential"... thats pretty naive. The major is still "only" a tournament. Missing a major doesnt mean shit in the long run. And are we talking about c9 or NiP now? Both on paper > fnatic. Im hoping fnatic play well at eleague! After that we might be able to talk about fnatic deserving an invite to these "mostly invitations" -tournaments.
2017-01-18 23:33
2 replies
tell me how long have c9 had this lineup? and remember fnatic swapped back krimz and than took in disco ;)
2017-01-18 23:35
1 reply
#111
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Finland coswell
They still dont deserve an invite over c9, just so they can "show that they have potential". Its all about results. Fnatic with this lineup has not been amazing online nor offline. C9 has actually prooved that they can win a tournament. #results #micdrop Good night.
2017-01-18 23:42
#23
 | 
United Kingdom DominnX26
clown9 hahaha
2017-01-18 21:28
nice FaZe next
2017-01-18 21:28
why clown9??
2017-01-18 21:28
#27
EspiranTo | 
Lithuania SiK_
MA BOYS!!! C9 HYPEEEEEEEEEE
2017-01-18 21:28
-OpTic + Liquid
2017-01-18 21:28
1 reply
nice troll
2017-01-18 21:38
Fair enough :)
2017-01-18 21:28
#32
 | 
United States ldKuKluxKlan
2 losers added
2017-01-18 21:28
#33
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Brazil vitorloyola
cloud9 LUL
2017-01-18 21:28
WTF? Cloud9? We smart, we loyal, we friendly, we are from BRAZIL! Kreygasm
2017-01-18 21:28
#36
 | 
Sri Lanka TheCerkes
Faze and north will be last two
2017-01-18 21:29
1 reply
#95
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Finland coswell
NaVi should get invited as they bring in spectators... Probably faze gets the other one, as its a NA brand. North will have to battle it out in the EU qualifier.
2017-01-18 23:03
Cloud9 top 1
2017-01-18 21:29
1 reply
i think you healed too many people and now you're sick , you need healing.
2017-01-19 10:20
#40
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
North America [unknown]
cloud9 in 2017
2017-01-18 21:29
Clown fucking 9..
2017-01-18 21:29
#43
 | 
France Gugus_Patacus
So either Faze, North or raining champs fnatic wont be invited gg IEM
2017-01-18 21:29
#45
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Germany nurwennnoetig
The feeling when you get invited not because of you skill.
2017-01-18 21:29
WHERE'S G2 ARMY
2017-01-18 21:30
#49
s1mple | 
Turkey solfex
Nice, next invites should be: NaVi and North.
2017-01-18 21:30
1 reply
+1
2017-01-18 21:34
#50
 | 
Europe smasherrr
Last invites North, NaVi Qualifiers: EU- Envyus, Faze, Godsent NA- Immortals
2017-01-18 21:32
new scream settings 2017 - youtube.com/watch?v=iNIdk2iFfpk
2017-01-18 21:33
LUL invite c9 and NiP LUL
2017-01-18 21:33
#57
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Pieter | 
Netherlands Grifte
C9 to be an invite was expected due to there only being 1 NA qualifier spot
2017-01-18 21:33
#60
 | 
Germany ToxlC
Navi and either North or Faze next invites
2017-01-18 21:34
invite faze maybe??????? not fkin c9 LOL
2017-01-18 21:34
#62
 | 
Denmark slacking
stop being arrogant pricks and invite fnatic, gods of cs:go
2017-01-18 21:34
1 reply
Good joke bro, i kekd
2017-01-18 21:54
#64
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
f0rest | 
Russia necromorph
invite navi pls
2017-01-18 21:35
#66
 | 
Korea Damianlee
kek
2017-01-18 21:36
#68
 | 
France kennySsSsS
C9? seriously? noooo
2017-01-18 21:37
#70
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Europe Heavon
C9? ..............Nice invite!
2017-01-18 21:41
#71
NiKo | 
Poland Jaruzel
Clown9 doesn't deserve, wtf...
2017-01-18 21:41
#72
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
f0rest | 
Serbia dankooo
C9 wat
2017-01-18 21:44
Nice for OG but why C9? Lmao
2017-01-18 21:44
lol clown9
2017-01-18 21:47
#76
NEO | 
Poland furleppe
cloud9 LUL
2017-01-18 21:53
Mouz will get invite aand big will qualify
2017-01-18 21:54
Tier 2 tournament except Astralis and SK
2017-01-18 21:55
please invide ss
2017-01-18 21:56
#82
 | 
Poland mamba99999
Clown9 ? Seriously ?
2017-01-18 21:58
#83
 | 
United Kingdom _HaqX_
Wtf Really c9 .... FaZe Way better team
2017-01-18 22:05
Pretty sure C9 got the invite because there is only one NA qualifier while EU has 3 qualifier spots.
2017-01-18 22:08
#85
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Poland trancemeister
n1ce :) + Fnatic , EnVyUs / Fc.Copenhagen plz :)
2017-01-18 22:15
#86
 | 
Brazil xpassw0rd
Immortals
2017-01-18 22:26
#88
Europe bueR
ESL more corrupt than Hillary. C9 is trash. Couldn't even qualify for the major.
2017-01-18 22:40
#89
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
bruttJ | 
Brazil rodriguinxd
cloud9? LUL -c9 +fnatic +NaVi +FaZe
2017-01-18 22:42
1 reply
THey have spots left xD C9 gets you moneyyy
2017-01-18 22:47
#92
 | 
Japan Th3Koala
Nice to see c9 in Katowice <3
2017-01-18 22:49
-c9 +navi +faze +north +g2 +envyus +immortals +ence
2017-01-18 22:49
Lmao c9 wasted spot
2017-01-18 23:11
1 reply
would be the same if they invite fnatic or faze ...just because faze survived the groupstage last tournament (when they failed to do the last 10 before xD) I guess they go for popularity so c9 is a logic pick
2017-01-19 12:53
#114
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Germany Naviever
+NaVi
2017-01-18 23:48
#118
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Hazel | 
China soldier2046
+VG
2017-01-19 01:37
3 EU qualifying spots and 1 na thats why they invited best two na teams EU teams like godsent will qualify ez
2017-01-19 02:32
#120
 | 
United States Vox_Lunae
fucking picking c9 lel
2017-01-19 02:33
#121
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Mongolia IBgn
EU has 3 qualifier spots? completely unbiased and fair. Kappa
2017-01-19 02:40
3 replies
#127
 | 
France t3r4byt3
when C9, OpTic and SK are all being invited, there is zero point in having more than one spot from the NA qualifier
2017-01-19 06:00
2 replies
#131
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Mongolia IBgn
wasn't referring to another NA qualifier spot. Why cant they give SA/AU/Asian or even S.African qualifier spot? As the scene grows, csgo events aren't all about NA and EU teams anymore.
2017-01-19 07:02
1 reply
#141
Kat | 
Slovakia Reve_nant
I agree there should be more spots for these regions, but be tell me, which teams could compete on this level from these regions. SA-SK,IMT,LG are in USA, so they have to play NA qualifier. Other teams are not so good. Asia- There is Cyberzen and Tyloo. We all know what happened to Tyloo a Cyberzen lost to iGame and Fnatic Academy! AU- Same as SA. Best teams are in NA. Maybe Tainted Minds(or what their name is) is only candidate and I doubt they would do something S.Africa - you are joking right? There should be playing on international events, but not immediately against best teams.
2017-01-19 10:13
#122
 | 
Syria Gonezxzx
Clown 9 can't even make majors, invite undeserved.
2017-01-19 02:54
#124
 | 
United States ImFat
Ez for Liquid next invite
2017-01-19 03:43
#126
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
World The President - HLTV.org
Envite 7 and 8 = Faze/North/French Super Team/Na'Vi My choice - Faze/French Super Team
2017-01-19 05:58
north/navi/faze/g2 plz 2 of these
2017-01-19 06:08
#129
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
North America [unknown]
ez for c9 once they aquire scream
2017-01-19 06:13
#133
 | 
Netherlands Funtobedavid
Fnatic????? They won Katowice in 2015 and 2016
2017-01-19 07:29
1 reply
#134
 | 
Syria Gonezxzx
I know right, what a joke in not inviting them.
2017-01-19 07:58
#135
kNgV- | 
Poland Mleko1
Finnaly i will se n0thing :D
2017-01-19 08:11
#137
 | 
Poland axmar1
Cloud9 ez
2017-01-19 09:23
#139
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Norway walde
When is the EU quals?
2017-01-19 09:56
cloud9 in 2017 lulululuull xDXDXDXxdxdxDXDXDXDxdxdXDXDXd
2017-01-19 10:52
#146
 | 
Greece lannje
c9? Wait what
2017-01-19 12:21
#147
NEO | 
Poland m@rulek
WHere is kinguin ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
2017-01-19 12:21
#150
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Poland Drimacus
mouz eazy
2017-01-19 12:57
FaZe and North please.
2017-01-19 16:28
#158
kNgV- | 
Poland Mleko1
Where the fuck is Fnatic? :c
2017-01-19 18:08
Another retard with the frozen brain. Terrible b8. And rooting for faze, LUL. Thats the end of any argument you could possibly have.
2017-01-20 04:23
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