It was now announced that the ESL Extreme Masters Season III Continental Finals Europe are being moved to the CeBIT rather than being played in Hamburg, Germany. This move will merge both events, the Continental Finals as well as the Global Finals which are also played at the CeBIT 2009 in Hannover, Germany.

By merging the events, the total prize money for CeBIT is now $280,000 for both Counter-Strike and World of Warcraft where $175,000 will be given out for Counter-Strike. During the first three days of CeBIT (3rd to 5th March 2009) the Continental Finals for Europe will take place followed by the Global Final right away from 6th to 8th March 2009.

The Global Finals gathers the teams from all around the world as the Extreme Masters also launched in America and Asia. European teams can qualify by playing the online competition, the Main Round. So far SK Gaming and mTw.dk are qualified for the Europe Final as well as MiBr, x3o and Gravitas Gaming for the Global Finals.

ESL Extreme Masters at CeBIT 2009

Date: 3rd to 8th March 2009
Location: CeBIT 2009 in Hannover, Germany
Participants: 24 teams for Counter-Strike
Prizemoney:
- $80,000 for Continental Finals Europe
- $200,000 for Global Finals

Qualified Teams for Continental Final Europe
- SK Gaming
- mTw

Qualified Teams for Global Final
- Made in Brazil
- x3o
- Gravitas Gaming