The Intel Extreme Masters in Melbourne is a huge annual event celebrating the best that Counter Strike: Global Offensive has to offer in Australia. Originally the event was set to take place in 2020, but was later postponed, with it going ahead and taking place in 2021 instead. Here we’ll look at how the event’s going down, what the tournament entails, and how you can place wagers on it more effectively.
Managed by IEM, which itself has been running since 2007, they oversee the major Counter Strike tournament, broadcasting in real-time. Run alongside the ESL, it’s sponsored by Intel themselves, as well as Acer and Mountain Dew, bringing some of the biggest names to the eSport. Part of the Intel Grand Slam series, it paves the way to the CS:GO championship, with players not just receiving prize money, but Pro Points as well. Part of the yearly Melbourne Esports Open, it’s hosted in the Rod Laver Arena, with sixteen teams in total participating.
It’s a huge event with a whole host of talent, and would continue as expected in the month of August 2021, as opposed to 2020. Who would come through and win the tournament itself though, and what signs should you look for when hoping to put down a bet?
Where To Bet CS:GO – IEM Melbourne 2020/2021:
America:
When it comes to betting on CS:GO in North America you can’t go wrong with Bovada, featuring its wide selection of bets across the board.
Canada:
Whenever it comes to CS:GO in Canada, Bet365 Sportsbook is your best bet, as it provides up-to-date betting coverage for most of the big games.
Everywhere Else:
Bet365 Sportsbook also provides international coverage for a variety of Counter Strike events and tournaments.
What is CS:GO – IEM Melbourne 2020/2021?
Part of the Pro Tour and a Masters event, the IEM Melbourne is set to be a huge tournament celebrating the best of Counter Strike. Featuring a host of big names playing before a live audience, it’s part of the Summer eSports schedule, as well as being officially recognized by Valve themselves. Previously hosted in Sydney as an important event in the Intel Grand Slam, teams are awarded for their progression through the ranks.
Massive amounts of money is behind it, with the prize-pool currently standing at $300,000, to be shared out accordingly among the top ranking winners. This is what the contest itself currently looks like, with it generally being formatted along these lines, although this may change:
- Group Stage: Two double elimination format groups with eight teams in each, all playing best-of-three matches, with the top three teams from each group advancing.
- Playoffs: Using a single elimination bracket, the quarter-finals are best-of-three, taking place over two days.
- Finals: The finals are best-of-five, as they decide upon the final overall winner., awarding them the points and money.
Running for a number of seasons now, the competition promises to always be a heated one, with the teams bringing their best. Which ones will go above and beyond though, getting through to the final rounds, winning the grand finals?
Common CS:GO – IEM Melbourne 2020/2021 Questions:
What should I look for in a winning CS:GO team?:Counter Strike has always been a game based on team-work, with players needing to look out for each other. That’s why you need to know not only the teams, but the players making up those teams as well, and what they have to offer. Whilst one team may be dominating the matches, a surprise out of the left-field can really knock them off their stride, and these are the odds you want. A team set in their ways can make for an easy target when the time is right, bringing you a nice win in the process.
How can I watch the games?:
There’s a range of outlets online showing the games when they come around, with the ESL live-streaming them themselves. Firstly you can head over to Twitch, with the official ESL_CSGO channel playing matches and events regularly there. You’ve also got YouTube, with both ESL Australia and ESL Archives replaying many of the games, letting you catch up. There’ll also be many games from the Sydney events, which are worth catching up on as well, giving you some idea as to how the competition will go down.
How to Bet CS:GO – IEM Melbourne 2020/2021:
‘Sports’ is what you’ll need first, and then ‘Esports’, giving you a range of options in the screen center. Selecting the ‘All Esports’ drop down, use ‘Counter Strike: Global Offensive’, and there you should find the ‘IEM Melbourne’ when it becomes available. In the middle of the page again should be all the upcoming matches, allowing you to choose the ones you want.
Bet365 Sportsbook:
‘Esports’ is down the left side of the page, and this will take you through to the eSports themselves listed alphabetically. With ‘CS:GO’ near the top, you then want the one that will be subtitled ‘IEM Melbourne’ when it becomes available. The betting markets will be underneath, letting you open these, creating your own betting slip as you want.
CS:GO – IEM Melbourne 2020/2021 Betting Strategy:
As a team game, everyone is important when it comes to CS:GO, but it’s useful to remember the individual strengths of each player too. The map used is also another important asset, as this can definitely change the outcome of any given game. Some players and teams fare better on certain terrains and layouts than others, so it’s essential to make yourself aware of this beforehand. Check the news and social-media feeds ahead of schedule to find exactly who is playing where and when, getting ahead of the curve.
With the larger teams make the most of the handicaps, along with the over/under, as this can really help even things out, especially when a team is dominating. When you know exactly what’s on offer, you should then have a clearer idea of how to place a more productive bet.