BetBoom, BETM 33, Passion UA Qualify for IEM Atlanta 2026

Passion UA, BetBoom Team, and BETM 33 have secured the final spots in the 16-team lineup for the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Atlanta 2026 Counter-Strike 2 tournament, completing the field after closed qualifiers concluded this week. The event, organized by ESL, is set for May 11 to 17 at the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta, where teams will compete for a $1 million prize pool.

The qualifiers determined the last three entrants to the main event. In the Global Closed Qualifier, BetBoom Team advanced undefeated through the upper bracket, conceding just one map in four best-of-three series. The Russian squad defeated BASEMENT BOYS, ENCE, and SINNERS Esports before facing BETM 33 in the upper bracket final. BetBoom clinched the series 2-1, winning Ancient 13-6 and Dust II 13-11, marking their first Tier 1 appearance since the BLAST.tv Austin Major in June 2025. BETM 33, also Russian, reached the final after victories over Inner Circle Esports and Fnatic. Following the loss, BETM 33 dropped to the lower bracket, where it beat SINNERS Esports 2-1 to claim the second Global spot.

In the Americas Closed Qualifier, Passion UA dominated early rounds, defeating Team Mouse...