IEM Rio CSGO Major 2022: Outsiders crush Heroic and win their first Major

Andrew Amos

The Rio Major has come to a close. After a series of dramatic upsets and two finalist teams that have never won a major, IEM Rio Major 2022 was won by the Outsiders. Catch up on the action here with all the event details, including the format, schedule, and the final results.


  • Outsiders beat MOUZ to book their finals spot, and went on to crush Heroic 2-0
  • Hometown favorites FURIA stunned by Heroic and knocked out in the semifinals
  • Despite getting knocked out of the tournament in the quarterfinals, s1mple was crowned the player of the decade by ESL

Come to Brazil, they said. Now Counter-Strike’s best are doing just that. The IEM Rio Major 2022 brought the peak of the game’s competition to the CS:GO-loving nation with a $1 million prize purse and the illustrious title on offer.

After being canceled in 2020, Valve and ESL have followed through on their promise to bring the biggest stage to Rio in 2022 where 24 of the world’s best Counter-Strike teams fought to win the major title. 

Catch up with all the IEM Rio Major 2022 pre-event info right here including the format and who qualified.

Contents

IEM Rio Major 2022: Streams

Being an ESL-run event, the IEM Rio Major 2022 was streamed on all ESL CSGO Twitch channels. Miss a game? Catch up with VODs on the ESL Archives YouTube channel.

Main stream

IEM Rio Major 2022: Schedule & results

The IEM Rio Major 2022 took place from October 31 to November 13, 2022. It was split into three different stages: Challengers, Legends, and Champions. This is akin to formats used in past Majors.

Challengers and Legends work on a five-game Swiss format, where teams need to win three matches to qualify for the next stage. Lose three matches and you’re eliminated.

The top eight teams foght through a single-elimination bracket to cement their place in Counter-Strike history. With $1.25 million on the line, the Outsiders walked away with a decent chunk of change ⁠— and a slot at IEM Katowice 2023.

FaZe Karrigan lifting PGL Major Antwerp trophy
FaZe Clan took home the last CS:GO Major in Antwerp earlier in 2022.

The event ran as follows:

Dates: October 31-November 13

  • Challengers Stage: October 31-November 3
  • Legends Stage: November 5-8
  • Champions Stage: November 10-13

Champions Stage (November 10-13)

Day 1: November 10

Stage Match PT ET GMT
Quarter-finals Fnatic 0-2 Outsiders 10 AM 1 PM 5 PM
Quarter-finals Cloud9 1-2 MOUZ 1:30 PM 4:30 PM 8:30 PM 

Day 2: November 11

Stage Match PT ET GMT
Quarter-finals Heroic 2-0 Spirit 10 AM 1 PM 5 PM
Quarter-finals FURIA 2-1 NAVI 1:30 PM 4:30 PM 8:30 PM 

Day 3: November 12

Stage Match PT ET GMT
Semi-finals Outsiders 2-1 MOUZ 10 AM 1 PM 5 PM
Semi-finals Heroic 2-1 FURIA 1:30 PM 4:30 PM 8:30 PM 

Day 4: November 13

Stage Match PT ET GMT
Grand final Outsiders 2-0 Heroic 11 AM 2 PM 6 PM

Legends Stage (November 5-8)

Day 1: November 5

Stage Match PT ET GMT
Swiss Round 1 MOUZ 16-2 Liquid 7 AM 10 AM 2 PM
Swiss Round 1 Spirit 16-8 Bad News Eagles 7 AM 10 AM 2 PM
Swiss Round 1 FaZe 14-16 Cloud9 8:15 AM 11:15 AM 3:15 PM
Swiss Round 1 Sprout 11-16 BIG 8:15 AM 11:15 AM 3:15 PM
Swiss Round 1 NAVI 25-21 Vitality 9:30 AM 12:30 PM 4:30 PM
Swiss Round 1 Outsiders 9-16 Heroic 9:30 AM 11:30 AM 4:30 PM
Swiss Round 1 FURIA 16-6 ENCE 10:45 AM 1:45 PM 5:45 PM
Swiss Round 1 NIP 13-16 Fnatic 10:45 AM 1:45 PM 5:45 PM
Swiss Round 2 Sprout 5-16 Liquid 1:15 PM 4:15 PM 8:15 PM 
Swiss Round 2 MOUZ 7-16 BIG 1:15 PM 4:15 PM 8:15 PM 
Swiss Round 2 FaZe 6-16 Vitality 2:30 PM 5:30 PM 9:30 PM
Swiss Round 2 NAVI 14-16 Cloud9 2:30 PM 5:30 PM 9:30 PM
Swiss Round 2 Spirit 13-16 FURIA 3:45 PM 6:45 PM 10:45 PM
Swiss Round 2 ENCE 16-7 Bad News Eagles 3:45 PM 6:45 PM 10:45 PM
Swiss Round 2 NIP 12-16 Outsiders 5 PM 8 PM 12 AM
Swiss Round 2 Heroic 16-2 Fnatic 5 PM 8 PM 12 AM

Day 2: November 6

Stage Match PT ET GMT
Swiss Round 3 NAVI 14-16 Liquid 7 AM 10 AM 2 PM
Swiss Round 3 MOUZ 19-17 Vitality 7 AM 10 AM 2 PM
Swiss Round 3 Spirit 14-16 Outsiders 8:15 AM 11:15 AM 3:15 PM
Swiss Round 3 ENCE 7-16 Fnatic 8:15 AM 11:15 AM 3:15 PM
Swiss Round 3 Heroic 0-2 Cloud9 9:30 AM 12:30 PM 4:30 PM
Swiss Round 3 FaZe 1-2 Bad News Eagles 9:30 AM 12:30 PM 4:30 PM
Swiss Round 3 FURIA 2-0 BIG 1 PM 4 PM 8 PM 
Swiss Round 3 Sprout 2-0 NIP 1 PM 4 PM 8 PM 

Day 3: November 7

Stage Match PT ET GMT
Swiss Round 4 NAVI 2-0 Bad News Eagles 7 AM 10 AM 2 PM
Swiss Round 4 MOUZ 0-2 Outsiders 7 AM 10 AM 2 PM
Swiss Round 4 ENCE 2-0 Vitality 10:30 AM 1:30 PM 5:30 PM
Swiss Round 4 BIG 0-2 Fnatic 10:30 AM 1:30 PM 5:30 PM
Swiss Round 4 Heroic 2-1 Team Liquid 2 PM 5 PM 9 PM 
Swiss Round 4 Spirit 2-0 Sprout 2 PM 5 PM 9 PM

Day 4: November 8

Stage Match PT ET GMT
Swiss Round 5 MOUZ 2-1 ENCE 7 AM 10 AM 2 PM
Swiss Round 5 BIG 0-2 NAVI 10:30 AM 1:30 PM 5:30 PM
Swiss Round 5 Spirit 2-1 Liquid 2 PM 5 PM 9 PM 

Challengers Stage (October 31 – November 3)

Day 1: October 31

Stage Match PT ET GMT
Swiss Round 1 MOUZ 16-6 Outsiders 7 AM 10 AM 2 PM
Swiss Round 1 9z 6-16 GamerLegion 7 AM 10 AM 2 PM
Swiss Round 1 Bad News Eagles 16-3 00 Nation 8:15 AM 11:15 AM 3:15 PM
Swiss Round 1 OG 16-5 Grayhound 8:15 AM 11:15 AM 3:15 PM
Swiss Round 1 BIG 19-16 FURIA 9:30 AM 12:30 PM 4:30 PM
Swiss Round 1 Evil Geniuses 16-9 IHC 9:30 AM 11:30 AM 4:30 PM
Swiss Round 1 Vitality 16-9 Imperial 10:45 AM 1:45 PM 5:45 PM
Swiss Round 1 Cloud9 17-19 Fnatic 10:45 AM 1:45 PM 5:45 PM
Swiss Round 2 00 Nation 6-16 FURIA 1:15 PM 4:15 PM 8:15 PM 
Swiss Round 2 Outsiders 16-12 IHC 1:15 PM 4:15 PM 8:15 PM 
Swiss Round 2 Evil Geniuses 10-16 MOUZ 2:30 PM 5:30 PM 9:30 PM
Swiss Round 2 BIG 11-16 Bad News Eagles 2:30 PM 5:30 PM 9:30 PM
Swiss Round 2 9z 16-11 Imperial 3:45 PM 6:45 PM 10:45 PM
Swiss Round 2 Vitality 10-16 GamerLegion 3:45 PM 6:45 PM 10:45 PM
Swiss Round 2 OG 13-16 Fnatic 5 PM 8 PM 12 AM
Swiss Round 2 Cloud9 17-19 Grayhound 5 PM 8 PM 12 AM

Day 2: November 1

Stage Match PT ET GMT
Swiss Round 3 Evil Geniuses 17-19 9z 7 AM 10 AM 2 PM
Swiss Round 3 Vitality 12-16 Outsiders 7 AM 10 AM 2 PM
Swiss Round 3 OG 16-19 FURIA 8:15 AM 11:15 AM 3:15 PM
Swiss Round 3 BIG 16-6 Grayhound 8:15 AM 11:15 AM 3:15 PM
Swiss Round 3 MOUZ 2-1 Fnatic 9:30 AM 12:30 PM 4:30 PM
Swiss Round 3 00 Nation 1-2 IHC 9:30 AM 12:30 PM 4:30 PM
Swiss Round 3 GamerLegion 0-2 Bad News Eagles 1 PM 4 PM 8 PM 
Swiss Round 3 Cloud9 2-0 Imperial 1 PM 4 PM 8 PM 

Day 3: November 2

Stage Match PT ET GMT
Swiss Round 4 BIG 2-0 9z 7 AM 10 AM 2 PM
Swiss Round 4 OG 2-0 IHC 7 AM 10 AM 2 PM
Swiss Round 4 Outsiders 2-0 Fnatic 10:30 AM 1:30 PM 5:30 PM
Swiss Round 4 Vitality 2-0 Grayhound 10:30 AM 1:30 PM 5:30 PM
Swiss Round 4 GamerLegion 0-2 FURIA 2 PM 5 PM 9 PM 
Swiss Round 4 Evil Geniuses 0-2 Cloud9 2 PM 5 PM 9 PM

Day 4: November 3

Stage Match PT ET GMT
Swiss Round 5 OG 1-2 Vitality 7 AM 10 AM 2 PM
Swiss Round 5 GamerLegion 0-2 Cloud9 10:30 AM 1:30 PM 5:30 PM
Swiss Round 5 Fnatic 2-0 9z 2 PM 5 PM 9 PM 

IEM Rio Major 2022: All qualified teams

Twenty-four teams qualified for the IEM Rio Major 2022 via the Regional Major Ranking (RMR) events in Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

The eight-best teams from the qualifying events (seven from Europe and one from the Americas) have made it into the Legends Stage ⁠— straight into the Top 16. The other 16 will have to battle their way through the Challengers Stage, which will also include two teams from Asia-Pacific.

You can find the full slot breakdown for the IEM Rio Major 2022 below.

Legends teams

TeamRegionPlayers
FaZeEuropekarrigan, ropz, Twistzz, rain, broky
NIPEuropeAleksib, hampus, Brollan, REZ, es3tag
NAVIEuropes1mple, sdy, b1t, electroNic, Perfecto
ENCEEuropeSnappi, Maden, valde, dycha, SunPayus
SproutEuroperefrezh, Zyphon, Staehr, slaxz-, lauNX
SpiritEuropemagixx, chopper, s1ren, Patsi, w0nderful
HeroicEuropecadiaN, sjuush, TeSes, stavn, jabbi
Team LiquidAmericasEliGE, NAF, oSee, nitr0, YEKINDAR

Challengers teams

TeamRegionPlayers
Cloud9Europeinterz, sh1ro, Hobbit, nafany, Ax1Le
MOUZEuropedexter, frozen, JDC, torzsi, xertioN
VitalityEuropedupreeh, Magisk, Spinx, apEX, ZywOo
OGEuropenexa, degster, flameZ, NEOFRAG, F1KU
Bad News EaglesEuropeSENER1, gxx-, juanflatroo, rigoN, sinnopsyy
BIGEuropetabseN, syrsoN, s1n, Krimbo, k1to
9zAmericasmax, dgt, dav1n, nqz, buda
Evil GeniusesAmericasBrehze, autimatic, nealaN, CeRq, HexT

Contenders teams

TeamRegionPlayers
GamerLegionEuropeKeoz, iM, isak, acoR, siuhy
FnaticEuropeKRIMZ, mezii, FASHR, roeJ, nicoodoz
OutsidersEuropeJame, qikert, FL1T, n0rb3r7, fame
FURIAAmericasKSCERATO, yuurih, drop, arT, safe
00 NationAmericascoldzera, TACO, dumau, try, latto
ImperialAmericasFalleN, chelo, boltz, fer, VINI
IHC EsportsAsiabLitz, sk0r, kabal, Techno4K, Annihilation
GrayhoundAsiaINS, Liazz, Vexite, Sico, aliStair

IEM Rio Major 2022: prize money distribution

The IEM Rio Major will have $1.25 million on the line. It’s a $250,000 increase when compared to the previous two CS:GO Majors, though it’s important to mention that, because of this change, the RMRs no longer have prize money on offer. All in all, the prize money for the entire Major cycle remains the same.

Placement Team Prize Money (USD)
1 Outsiders $500,000
2 Heroic $180,000
3-4 FURIA $80,000
MOUZ
5-8 Spirit $45,000
NAVI
Cloud9
fnatic
9-11 Liquid $20,000
BIG
ENCE
12-14 Vitality $20,000
Sprout
Bad News Eagles
15-16 NIP $20,000
FaZe
17-19 9z $10,000
GamerLegion
OG
20-22 Evil Geniuses $10,000
IHC
Grayhound
23-24 Imperial $10,000
00 Nation