IEM Rio: The Ultimate Viewer’s Guide to the Pre-BLAST.tv Paris Major LAN Event

As the final tier-one LAN event before the BLAST.tv Paris Major, IEM Rio is set to kick off on Monday, April 17, with the grand finale taking place on April 23 in front of the Jeunesse Arena.

The tournament will feature 16 teams, including six from the top 10, competing for six playoff spots in a double-elimination group stage. The top teams from each group will earn a spot in the semi-finals, while those in second and third place will start from the quarter-finals.

The knockout stage of the tournament will follow a single-elimination format, with best-of-three matchups leading up to the best-of-five grand final on April 23. The winning team will take home a $100,000 cash prize and secure a place at IEM Cologne, scheduled to run from July 25 to August 6.

FaZe, the highest-ranked team in attendance, is looking to bounce back after a less-than-stellar performance at the recent BLAST.tv Paris Major Europe RMR in Copenhagen. Meanwhile, Natus Vincere has the opportunity to steal the spotlight, having earned their spot at CS:GO’s last-ever Major with an unbeaten 3-0 record in Denmark.

The event will also feature three Brazilian teams: FURIA, MIBR, and Imperial. FURIA received the ‘Local Hero’ invite, MIBR won the North American qualifier, and Imperial was a last-minute replacement for Virtus.pro, who withdrew to focus on “enhanced training.”

The week-long event will begin with the group stage on April 17 and conclude with the best-of-five grand final on April 23. A team of 14 talent members, led by James “BanKs” Banks, will guide viewers through the action, with casting duties assigned to well-known names such as Chad “SPUNJ” Burchill, Alex “Machine” Richardson, and Harry “JustHarry” Russell.

IEM Rio boasts a $250,000 prize pool, with $100,000 and a ticket to IEM Cologne going to the winning team. The remaining cash will be distributed proportionately based on teams’ final standings.