Falcons became the latest team to secure a place in the playoffs of IEM Cologne Major 2026 after defeating Natus Vincere 2-1 in the 2-1 pool. The European superteam bounced back from an opening loss to BetBoom and completed a strong recovery, while NAVI dropped to the dangerous 2-2 bracket and will now have one final chance to reach the LANXESS Arena.
Teams’ Paths
Falcons recovered impressively after opening Stage 3 with a loss to BetBoom. Since then, they defeated G2, Monte, and now NAVI to secure a playoff berth with a 3-1 record.
NAVI started Stage 3 with a defeat against Spirit but responded with victories over Legacy and The MongolZ. Their loss to Falcons sends them into the 2-2 pool, where one final series will determine whether they reach the playoffs.
With the victory, Falcons became one of the playoff participants at IEM Cologne Major 2026 and booked their ticket to the LANXESS Arena. NAVI, meanwhile, remain alive in the tournament, but any further mistake will end their Major campaign.
read more
Falcons Dominate Dust2
The series started on Falcons’ map pick, Dust2, and quickly turned into a nightmare for NAVI. Led by Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov, Falcons completely controlled the game and crushed the Ukrainians 13-3. NAVI struggled to find openings on either side and managed to win only three rounds.
NAVI Respond on Mirage
Mirage, chosen by NAVI, brought a completely different story. After a close first half, NAVI found their rhythm and gradually pulled away to claim a convincing 13-7 victory. Mihai “iM” Ivan and Valeriy “b1t” Vakhovskyi delivered several key rounds to force a decider.
Overtime Decides the Series
Anubis produced the most dramatic map of the match. Neither side could create a significant advantage, and after regulation ended level at 12-12, the teams headed to overtime. Falcons held their nerve in the extra rounds and eventually secured a 19-16 victory to close the series 2-1.
m0NESY Leads Falcons
Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov finished as the best player of the series with 57 kills and a 1.33 rating. René “TeSeS” Madsen also had a strong performance with a 1.29 rating, while Nikola “NiKo” Kovač added a 1.19 rating. For NAVI, Mihai “iM” Ivan posted 57 kills, but it was not enough to prevent defeat.
VRS Impact
The victory moved Falcons up one position in the Valve Regional Standings. The team gained eight points and climbed from fourth to third place. NAVI suffered a major setback, losing 31 points and dropping from third to fourth in the rankings.
Team Reactions
Falcons celebrated qualification on social media with the message:
WE ARE GOING TO THE PLAYOFFS. SEE YOU IN THE LANXESS ARENA.
NAVI acknowledged the narrow defeat and looked ahead to the final Swiss round:
16:19… You saw for yourselves just how close it was. This time, the victory goes to Falcons, and we move to the 2-2 bracket.
What’s Next?
With the victory, Falcons secured a place in the playoffs and became one of the teams that will compete in front of the packed LANXESS Arena crowd. After recovering from an early setback against BetBoom, the squad completed an impressive run through the Swiss stage and finished with a 3-1 record.
For NAVI, the defeat does not mean elimination yet. The Ukrainian side now falls to the 2-2 bracket, where one final series will decide whether they can extend their journey and join the playoff field. With no room for error remaining, their Major hopes will come down to one last match.
read more
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.
