After an exciting round of qualifiers, it’s time to prepare for the CS:GO Minor Championships. This is how the path that will determine the final ten participants at the IEM Katowice 2019 CS:GO Major looks like:

The various regional Minors will take place in January at the ESL Arena in Katowice on the following dates:

16-20 January: CIS and EU Minors

22-26 January: Asia and Americas Minors

27 January: The Minor Play-in

Format:

Each Minor will begin with two groups of four teams each in a double elimination format. Opening matches will be bo1, with the following Decider, Elimination and Winners’ matches decided on a bo3 basis. The use of a bo3 for the Winners’ Match is a new addition for 2019. The top two teams from each group will progress to the playoffs.

Playoffs will consist of four teams in a double elimination bo3 bracket. This year, there will not be a Grand Final at the Minors; the winner of the upper bracket will be placed 1st and the winner of the lower bracket 2nd. The top two teams from each region will qualify for the Challenger Stage of the IEM Katowice 2019 CS:GO Major.

The Minor Play-in

The team that places 3rd at each Minor will qualify for The Minor Playoff, a last chance to qualify for the Major. All four teams will be placed in a double elimination bracket with the following pre-established seeding for the opening round: 3rd EU Minor vs. 3rd Asia Minor, 3rd CIS Minor vs. 3rd Americas Minor.

Opening and Winners’ matches will be played as bo1, Elimination and Decider matches will be bo3. The top two teams will qualify for the Challenger Stage of the IEM Katowice 2019 CS:GO Major.

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