ESL finalize Katowice invites with 6 American teams

As reported earlier in the week, the methodology which ESL uses to invite teams to Katowice and its Play-In resulted in very close shaves for certain NA and European teams. Specifically, Astralis were at risk of not being invited to the Katowice Play-In due to not having enough ESL Pro Tour points. Their hopes rested on winning CCT Central Europe Series 4 and both Evil Geniuses and paiN bombing out early in this weekend's Cash Cup.

The Danes' hopes were quickly dashed, though. A 2-1 loss to fellow Danish side Copenhagen Flames in the finals of CCT means that they did not receive the full allotment of ESL Pro Tour points. With Evil Geniuses' fourth-place finish at the most recent ESEA Cash Cup along with paiN's second-place finish, Astralis were unable to surpass either team in the ESL World Rankings. Since the ratings are locked today on Monday, December 19, Astralis have no more chances to attend Katowice.

As such, that would also mean that Evil Geniuses and paiN have both qualified for the Katowice Play-Ins as the bottom two seeds. They will join Liquid, FURIA, Complexity, and MIBR as the Americas' representatives at IEM Katowice 2023. This has been confirmed by ESL, meaning we will see EG and paiN in Poland in just a few months.