IEM Beijing open qualifier preponed

ESL have announced a slight modification to IEM Beijing 2026. The last ESL Pro Tour event of 2026 will take place a couple of months before the PGL Singapore Major and the main event remains unchanged. The open qualifiers leading up to the main event have been pushed forwards by one day. Originally set to take place on 24th and 25th August 2026, the open qualifiers will now take place on 23rd and 24th August 2026.

This open qualifier will run a single-elimination best-of-one bracket with best-of-three deciders to send four teams into the closed qualifier. The closed qualifier will take place on 2nd, 3rd and 4th September 2026 with twelve invited teams alongside the four teams from open qualifiers. Two teams from the closed qualifier will book their IEM Beijing 2026 slots.

Here's what we know about IEM Beijing 2026 so far:

• Main event: 02-08/11/2026

• Open qualifiers: 23-24/07/2026

• Closed qualifiers: 02-03/08/2026

• VRS Invites: August 2026