During the 74th IIHF World Championship, the world's best ice hockey nations will crown their champion for the 6th time on German ice. 16 teams will play a total of 56 games between May 7 and May 23, 2010. The tournament will start off with a preliminary round of four groups with four teams each. Germany plays his opening game in Gelsenkirchen and will deliver his qualifying rounds or Relegation Games in Cologne.
Groups and Venues Group A: Russia, Belarus, Slovakia, Kazakhstan Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Latvia, Italy Group C: Sweden, Czech Republic, Norway, France. Group D: Finland, USA, Germany, Denmark.
The venue for Groups A and D is the LANXESS arena of Cologne excluding the opening game Germany vs. USA in Gelsenkirchen. Groups B and C will be played in the SAP ARENA in Mannheim. The final game schedule is still to be confirmed.
Preliminary Round A round-robin will see each team compete against the others of its group – making for three games per team. The group's three best-placed teams will then move on to compete in the Qualifying Round, while the last-placed team goes to the Relegation Round.
Qualifying Round Split into two groups, the twelve teams will play on – making for a further three games for each team.
Relegation Round The four last-placed teams will continue to play in the Relegation Round. The two relegated teams will be determined by round-robin.
Quarter-Finals Following the Qualifying Round, the four best placed teams in each group will compete in the four Quarter-final games. The two last-placed teams in each group drop out of the tournament.
Semi-Finals The winners of the Quarter Finals will compete in the two Semi-Final games.
Bronze Medal Game The two losers of the Semi-Finals will play each other for third and fourth place, and the Bronze Medal.
Gold Medal Game The winners of the Semi-Finals will compete in an ultimate game for the World Championship title.
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