Earlier today, the Intel Extreme Masters twitter dropped the information for the first matches of the play-in event, played immediately before the Katowice main event.

The 16 hopeful teams will square off in an epic 8 matches in a single day, the 16th February, using a best of one format for the initial matches, before switching to best of 3 for all remaining ones, on this double elimination competition. The 8 matches will be slotted into 3 different time slots throughout the day, being covered by different streams.

Here are the initial matches announced by IEM, and the expected stream of theirs it'll take place on.

11:00 - 

Cloud9 vs Spirit (Stream A)

BIG vs Movistar Riders (Stream B)

Gambit vs TeamOne (Stream C)

12:30 - 

NIP vs Complexity (Stream A)

mousesports vs Renegades (Stream B)

Virtus.pro vs Wisła Kraków (Stream C)

14:00 -

Liquid vs MIBR (Stream A)

OG vs fnatic (Stream B)

Those who win their initial match will go to an upper bracket, whereas those who do not, will go to the lower bracket, where if they lose another match, they'll be quickly shown the door, and their dreams of attending the main IEM Katowice 2021 tournament will be thrown out after them.

Highlights of the initial lineup include the player 'smooya' in his new team of Movistar Riders, taking on his old team BIG. Meanwhile, one of Australia's finest, Renegades, will attempt to power over the strength of in-game leader legend Karrigan and his team of mousesports. Plus the struggling side of late, MIBR, will attempt to pour cold water on Liquid's first game.

Of the 16 teams here, 8 will progress to the Katowice main event, which starts on the 18th February, the day after the play-in competition ends. Where the 8 will crash straight into the likes of the 8 teams already qualified for the event, Heroic, FURIA, G2, FaZe, Evil Geniuses, Vitality, Astralis & Natus Vincere.

You can view the original tweet relating to this, here.