IEM Rio 2026 kicks off on April 13 with a packed Group Stage featuring Vitality vs RED Canids and other high-profile matchups like Spirit vs Team Liquid, FURIA vs Passion UAB, and Aurora Gaming vs H2U, spread across multiple time slots in Central European and Eastern times.

Monday’s schedule designates Vitality vs RED Canids as the opening match, with a slate that includes top teams such as G2, Spirit, NAVI, MOUZ, and FURIA across the day.

The event offers a $1 million prize pool, with distributions favoring clubs over players and meaningful sums for placements down to 16th.

Fantasy considerations are shaped by changing player dynamics and injuries, notably huNter’s absence influencing team compositions.

Vitality enters the tournament aiming for a second Grand Slam title as the IEM Rio major race continues, keeping pressure on rivals after PGL Bucharest results.

Spirit’s trio of magixx, tn1r, and zont1x are priced similarly in fantasy, with tn1r and zont1x drawing more attention than the IGL.

Fantasy prizes include season points and various Hellcase skins, with rewards spanning top five to ten placements and items like Huntsman Knife | Bright Water and Desert Eagle | Mecha Industries.

The Group Stage uses eight-team double-elimination groups, all matches are best-of-three, and upper-bracket finalists receive an extra padding round.

The Rio field is stacked with NAVI, FURIA, Falcons, Aurora, MOUZ, Spirit, G2, LEGACY, 3DMAX, B8, Liquid, Passion UA, Gentle Mates, HOTU, and RED Canids, while PARIVISION, Astralis, and FUT are not participating.

Vitality leads fantasy pick charts with apEX as a popular choice, alongside flameZ and ropz, underscoring perceived value ahead of the event.

G2 will field Vilius tAk Keserauskas in place of Nemanja huNter Kovác, due to injury, with tAk priced at $184k.

Roster changes impact the tournament: Spirit will be led by Academy coach S0tF1k due to hally’s health issues; G2 relies on SunPayus and NertZ; FaNg substitutes for Senzu at Passion UA; Falcons may pivot toward karrigan.