Australia
Everything You Need to Know Ahead of Intel Extreme Masters Sydney 2023: The First Live Counter-Strike 2 Event
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Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) returns down under to Sydney, Australia, on October 16 to 22 and will be the first ever live international tournament to be played on Counter-Strike (CS) 2. The final three days of the competition will be held in front of a live audience as fans are invited to enter the Aware Super Theatre to witness history being made.
- Intel Extreme Masters returns to Sydney as 16 of the worldâs best Counter-Strike teams face off on October 16 to 22 to battle it out for a share of the US$250,000 prize pool.
- During the final three days, the top six teams will compete in front of a live crowd at the iconic Aware Super Theatre.
- The winning team will cement their spot in eSports history as the first Champions in Counter-Strike 2 and take a step forward in the race to secure Intel Grand Slam V.
- Amongst others, local heroes Grayhound.Rivalry and VERTEX Esports Club will be attending, fighting for the crown.
- The competition will be streamed live from Sydney on ESL Counter-Strike Twitch and YouTube channels and via dedicated broadcast partners.
Here is all you need to know about IEM Sydney 2023
IEM Sydney 2023 will see 16 top CS 2 teams compete for a total prize pool of US$250,000, a win in the race to secure Intel Grand Slam V and a spot in the Group Stage of IEM Katowice 2024, the first ESL Pro Tour Championship event next year. Commencing October 16, contenders from around the globe will compete in Sydney with the six best teams facing off live in front of a packed-out audience at the Aware Super Theatre between October 20 to 22.
The Caches IV show-match
Powered by Intel and Acer, The Caches is a legendary fan-favourite show-match that will be making its return to IEM Sydney for a fourth time. As a lead-in to the IEM Sydney Grand Final, Team Australia will battle it out against Team UK at 16:30 local time on Sunday, October 22, with Chad âSPUNJâ Burchill and Henry âHenryGâ Greer returning to the stage and continuing their epic rivalry.
Schedule and format
Group Stage (October 16 to 18):
- Featuring 16 teams of which the top six advance to the playoffs.
* The group stage will be a double-elimination bracket.
* Opening matches are best-of-one.
* All following matches are best-of-three.
* Group stage winners advance to the semi-finals.
* The group stage runners-up advance to the quarterfinals as the high seeds.
* The group stage third-place teams advance to the quarter-finals as the low seeds.
Playoffs (October 20 to 22):
- Played in a single elimination format.
- The quarter-finals, semi-finals and grand final will all be best-of-three.
Teams attending
- ENCE (ESL Partner Team)
- Â FaZe Clan (ESL Partner Team)
- G2 Esports (ESL Partner Team)
- MOUZ (ESL Partner Team)
- Natus Vincere (ESL Partner Team)
- Team Vitality (ESL Partner Team)
- Cloud9 (ESL World Ranking)
- Fnatic (ESL World Ranking)
- GamerLegion (ESL World Ranking)
- Monte (ESL World Ranking)
- Grayhound.Rivalry (Local Hero Invite)
- Apeks (European Qualifier)
- BetBoom Team (European Qualifier)
- Complexity Gaming (North American Qualifier)
- Lynn Vision Gaming (Asian Qualifier)
- VERTEX Esports Club (Oceanic Qualifier)
Prize money (USD)
TOTAL | $250,000 |
1st | $100,000 |
2nd | $42,000 |
3rd-4th | $20,000 |
5th-6th | $10,000 |
7th – 8th | $6,000 |
9th – 12th | $5,000 |
13th-16th | $4,000 |
Broadcast talent
- Tres âstunnaâ Saranthus (Desk Host)
- Freya âFreyaâ Spiers (Desk Host)
- Janko âYNkâ Paunovic (Analyst)
- Sudhen âBlehâ Wahengbam (Analyst)
- Aleksandar âkassadâ Trifunovic (Analyst)
- Anastasija âHeccuâ Tolmaceva (Sideline Reporter)
- Alex âMachineâ Richardson (Caster)
- Chad âSPUNJâ Burchill (Caster)
- James Bardolph (Caster)
- Alex âHawkaâ Hawkins (Caster)
- Mitch âConkyâ Concanen (Stage Host)
- Jordan âElfishguyâ Mays (Caster)
- Mitchell âpilskiâ Pilipowski (Caster)
- Geordie âMacâ McAleer (Caster)
- James âjimNesoâ Cowan (Caster)
On-site side activities
Held in conjunction with IEM Sydney, the SXSW Sydney Innovation and Technology expo takes place on October 18 to 21, giving fans attending the event in person the opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of on-site activities:
- At the Intel Booth, fans are invited to try out the latest games and hardware, participate in activities and get their idolsâ signatures.
- At the ESL Shop, attendees can pick up official eSports merch including exclusive drops, Kolex Cards and their favourite teamâs jersey. Local teams Vertex and Grayhound.Rivalry will also be stocked.
- The Monster Energy Booth features a sampling bar where fans can grab their prefered flavor, meet Monster streamers, get a fresh haircut and more.
- Stay tuned as additional details and activities will be revealed.
Where to watch
Fans tuning in online and watching the matches from around the globe can look forward to an exciting broadcast filled with extra content.
The live broadcast will be available on the ESL Counter-Strike Twitch and YouTube channels. For those unable to tune in live, all matches will also be available to watch for free on-demand via YouTube.
Assets for IEM Sydney 2023 can be found in the press kit.
For more information about IEM Sydney 2023 and the latest updates, please visit the official website and follow ESL Counter-Strike on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Details of the mentioned activities are still subject to change.
Australia
Australian eSports Star Joins Team Liquid
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Excitement in the global Counter-Strike community is reaching fever pitch as fans gear up for the BLAST Premier Fall Groups 2024.
Sixteen teams will compete in groups of four to claim six spots in the Fall Final. Those who fail to qualify will be entered into the 2024 BLAST Premier Fall Showdown in August.
There have been plenty of changes in the build-up as teams finalise their rosters. One move that stands out as a potential game-changer is Justin âjksâ Savage’s addition to Team Liquid.
Roster changes can easily be the difference between glory and despair, and Savage’s move to Team Liquid is undeniably a statement of intent.
Savage Ready to Make an Impact
Savage is widely regarded as one of the best players on the Counter-Strike scene. He brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of performing at the highest level.
The Australian eSports star is renowned for his exceptional aim, versatility, tactical brilliance and clutch potential.
His addition to a team already boasting the firepower of Keith âNAFâ Markovic, Russel âTwistzzâ Van Dulken, and Mareks âYEKINDARâ GaÄźinskis is an exciting prospect for Team Liquid.
Savage has been a key player for several top-tier teams, including Renegades, 100 Thieves, FaZe Clan, and Complexities.
His experience, ability to adapt to different roles and composure under pressure make him a valuable asset for Team Liquid, bolstering their lofty ambitions ahead of the tournament.
The 28-year-old finished in the top three in six of his last nine S-Tier Counter-Strike Global Offensive tournaments. He claimed the top spot in four of those six podium finishes, emphasising his exceptional skill and consistency at the highest level of competition.
While it remains to be seen if he can translate those performances into Counter-Strike 2, all eyes will be on the Australian as he bids to cement his position as a powerhouse in the gaming scene.
Savage’s addition to Team Liquid will attract the attention of the gambling community in his homeland, with eSports enthusiasts keen to see if he will live up to expectations at the Fall Groups.
With betting agencies in Australia expanding their offerings to encompass eSports competitions, Savage will likely be a popular option for punters over the next few months.
Team Liquid could also be the perfect platform for Savage to remind the eSports scene of his remarkable abilities as a Counter-Strike star.
The world-renowned gaming organisation has won five LCS titles, and their Counter-Strike Global Offensive team was awarded the Intel Grand Slam prize in 2019 after winning four tournaments in just 63 days.
Team Liquid will fancy their chances of claiming glory at the Fall Group 2024, and Savage is poised to play a key role in their lofty ambitions.
Roster Changes Galore as Teams Prepare for Fall Groups
There has been a whirlwind of activity during the off-season, with teams making changes in preparation for the upcoming BLAST Premier Fall Groups.
Liquid were one of the biggest movers in the off-season as they were forced to make two changes after benching âcadiaNâ and âskullzâ.
The latter subsequently joined FURIA, with Liquid recruiting Polish gamer Roland âultimateâ Tomkowiak as a replacement. Danish Counter Strike 2 coach Torbjorn âmithRâ Nyborg has also joined.
It will be interesting to see how Liquid performs on the big stage, especially Tomkowiak, who was a relatively unknown quantity before joining the team.
While Liquid’s shake-up was a major talking point, German organisation G2 eSports made a move poised to send shivers down the spines of old-school Counter-Strike fans.
G2 has brought back the legendary duo of âSnaxâ and âTaZâ. Both players haven’t played together since âTaZâ left Virtus.pro in 2018, making their reunion a major headline for the upcoming season.
Cloud9 made the most changes during the off-season. After a disappointing run, they have recruited three new players in a massive rebuild for the organisation.
After a one-year hiatus, âInterzâ returns to the team and will be joined by fresh firepower in âICYâ and âHeavyGodâ. Cloud9 will hope their revamped roster can halt their recent barren streak.
Continuing their recent trend of utilising international talent, BIG has recruited ârigoNâ to strengthen their line-up. The organisation traditionally favours an all-German line-up, but their recent move suggests a commitment to building a roster capable of landing the championship this season.
The departure of âHeavyGodâ left a big hole in OG’s line-up. Instead of replacing him directly, they freed up âk1toâ for fragging duties.
With âSnaxâ departing for G2, GamerLegion wasted no time naming a new leader with the addition of highly-rated Swedish player âztrâ.
The final off-season reshuffle saw HEROIC replace ânicoodozâ with âdegsterâ after an extended break. He could provide the firepower needed to propel the team to the top of the charts.
Australia
ACMA Blocks More Illegal Gambling Websites
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The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has requested the Australian internet service providers (ISPs) to block more illegal gambling websites, after investigations found these services to be operating in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.
The latest sites blocked include Richard Casino and Wanted Win.
Website blocking is one of a range of enforcement options to protect Australians against illegal gambling services. This action can be taken if a service is:
- providing prohibited interactive gambling services to customers in Australia (such as online casinos, online slot machines and services that allow in-play online sports betting)
- providing an unlicensed regulated interactive gambling service to customers in Australia (such as online betting services that donât have a valid Australian licence)
- publishing ads for prohibited interactive gambling services or unlicensed regulated interactive gambling services in Australia.
Since the ACMA made its first blocking request in November 2019, 1,011 illegal gambling and affiliate websites have been blocked. Over 220 illegal services have also pulled out of the Australian market since the ACMA started enforcing illegal offshore gambling rules.
Australia
The Star Shuts Down EGMs and ETGs at All Three Australian Casinos Due to âSystem Performance Issuesâ
![](https://europeangaming.eu/portal/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/9-5.jpg)
Electronic gaming machines (EGMs) and electronic table games (ETGs) at all three of Star Entertainment Groupâs Australian casinos remained offline on Monday following what it describes as âsystem performance issuesâ related to the introduction of cashless gaming technology. The machines had gone dark on Saturday evening.
According to information released by the company via an ASX announcement, the issue relates to planned upgrades to The Starâs systems in readiness for the introduction of cashless gaming.
âCertain of The Starâs systems have been disrupted due to system performance issues identified in post-upgrade testing which resulted in the decision to switch off all Electronic Gaming Machines and Electronic Table Games in each of The Starâs three properties from 10:00 pm onwards on 13 July 2024 until the issue is resolved,â Star said.
âThe decision was taken by The Star to ensure compliance with relevant regulations, and to maintain the companyâs commitment to safer gambling procedures.â
Star explained that it is working with its systems provider Konami to address the issues but said its properties â Treasury Brisbane, The Star Gold Coast and The Star Sydney â remain open with table games still operational.
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