The IIHF World Championship Division II are an annual sports event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation. The division championships are played in two groups.
From 2001 until 2011, the two national teams that finished last in their groups in Division I were relegated to Division II for next year's World Championships. At the Division II Championship, the winner of each group was promoted to next year's Division I, while the loser of each group was relegated to the IIHF World Championship Division III. Beginning in 2012, the Group A champion will be promoted to Division I Group B, and will be replaced by that tournament's last placed team. The Group B champion will be promoted to Group A, and be replaced by the team relegated from there. Last place in Group B is relegated to Division III, being replaced by their champion.
The Division II World championships have been played in their current format since 2001. Division II was formed from the teams ranked 29th to 40th, which was the five lowest-placing teams in Pool C, and the seven best teams from Pool D. Beginning in 2012, the two groups became tiered rather than parallel. Teams qualified for Group A by either being relegated from Division I, or placing 2nd or 3rd in their 2011 groups. Group B teams were formed from the teams placing 4th, 5th, or promoted from Division III.
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