BetBoom Team continued their impressive run at IEM Cologne Major 2026 by defeating Falcons 2-0 in the second round of Stage 3. The victory moved the Russian side to a perfect 2-0 record and put them one win away from the playoffs, while Falcons dropped to the 1-1 bracket.
Teams’ road in Cologne
BetBoom arrived in Stage 3 after surviving Stage 2 with a 3-1 record. Their journey included victories over GamerLegion, M80 and Monte, while losses came against Spirit. Since reaching Stage 3, BetBoom have maintained their momentum by defeating The MongolZ and now Falcons, improving to 2-0.
Falcons entered Stage 3 directly through the Valve Regional Standings and began their campaign with a hard-fought victory over G2. However, the loss to BetBoom dropped the European superteam to a 1-1 record.
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BetBoom overpower Falcons in two maps
Despite entering the series as favorites, Falcons struggled to contain BetBoom’s aggressive approach. The opening map, Nuke, was selected by BetBoom and turned into a close affair, but Kirill “Magnojez” Rodnov and company edged out a 13-11 victory.
Falcons attempted to answer on Ancient, their own map pick, but BetBoom once again proved stronger. After building momentum in the second half, the Russian squad closed the map 13-10 and secured a convincing 2-0 sweep.
Magnojez shines against the favorites
Kirill “Magnojez” Rodnov delivered one of his best performances of the tournament and was named player of the match. The BetBoom rifler posted a 1.80 rating with 47 kills and 108.6 ADR across the two maps.
On the Falcons side, René “TeSeS” Madsen was the highest-rated player with a 1.18 rating, while NiKo and m0NESY were unable to have their usual impact.
VRS implications
The victory brought BetBoom an additional 41 VRS points, moving the team from 12th to 9th place in the standings.
Falcons, meanwhile, lost 24 points and slipped from third to fourth position. Despite the setback, they remain among the highest-ranked teams in the world.
Team reactions
BetBoom celebrated the victory on X with a confident message:
Confidently defeated Team Falcons. The team’s adventures continue in the 2-0.
Falcons kept their reaction brief after the loss, posting:
Not our day.
The organization also reminded fans that the team now sits at 1-1 in the Swiss stage.
What’s next?
BetBoom are now just one victory away from securing a place in the playoffs and will play in the 2-0 qualification matches. Falcons, meanwhile, fall into the crowded 1-1 pool, where the race for playoff spots remains wide open.
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Skin.Club Pick’em Challenge
Running alongside the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 is the Skin.Club Pick’em Challenge — an interactive feature where fans predict match results, choose advancing teams, and earn points throughout the tournament. By making accurate picks, participants unlock rewards ranging from premium skins to rare gloves and knives, with the ultimate prize being the iconic AWP | Dragon Lore.
