The final opening matches of Stage 3 at IEM Cologne Major 2026 saw Falcons and Team Spirit begin their campaigns with victories. Falcons survived a hard-fought three-map battle against G2, while Spirit delivered one of the most dominant performances of the day to sweep Natus Vincere and move into the 1-0 pool.
Falcons edge out G2 in thrilling three-map series
One of the most anticipated matchups of the opening round lived up to expectations as Falcons and G2 traded blows across three maps. G2 struck first by winning their own pick, Inferno, 13-10, putting pressure on Nikola “NiKo” Kovač and his teammates.
Falcons responded immediately on Dust2, where they controlled the game and secured a 13-8 victory to force a decider. Ancient delivered the closest map of the series, with both sides battling until overtime. In the end, Falcons held their nerve and claimed a 16-13 victory to secure the series 2-1.
NiKo and m0NESY power Falcons to victory
Nikola “NiKo” Kovač was the standout player of the series, finishing with 60 kills and a 1.51 rating. Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov once again proved crucial for Falcons, recording 63 frags and a 1.41 rating. G2 fought hard throughout the series, with Nikita “HeavyGod” Martynenko posting a team-high 1.26 rating and 57 kills, but the European squad ultimately fell short in the deciding map.
Spirit dismantle NAVI in CIS classic
The highly anticipated clash between Team Spirit and Natus Vincere turned into a one-sided affair. Danil “donk” Kryshkovets and company completely outclassed NAVI and secured a dominant 2-0 victory.
Spirit started on Dust2, their own map pick, and allowed NAVI to win just a single round, closing the map 13-1. The second map, Anubis, proved more competitive, but Spirit remained in control and wrapped up the series with a 13-8 victory.
The win extended Spirit’s impressive streak and further strengthened their status as one of the favorites to win the Major.
donk delivers another MVP performance
Danil “donk” Kryshkovets once again stole the spotlight. The Russian superstar finished the series with 38 kills, 111 ADR, and a stunning 1.98 rating, comfortably earning Player of the Match honors.
Dmitry “sh1ro” Sokolov also impressed with a 1.90 rating, while Myroslav “zont1x” Plakhotia contributed a 1.44 rating. For NAVI, Ihor “w0nderful” Zhdanov was the highest-rated player with a 0.99 rating, while no member of the roster managed to finish above the 1.00 mark.
Teams react
Falcons celebrated their hard-fought victory with a message on social media:
ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED? COLOGNE, WE ARE HERE.
Despite the loss, G2 praised the quality of the series, posting:
Holy hype series.
Spirit kept their usual humorous tone after defeating NAVI:
2-0 Is this still Stage 2??navi
NAVI admitted that the team failed to capitalize on crucial moments and wrote:
Rounds were completely slipping through our fingers tonight. We fall short on Anubis (8-13), and tomorrow we will be playing in the 0-1 basket.
VRS impact
Despite the victory, Falcons lost three VRS points but remained third in the standings. G2 dropped 21 points and stayed in 13th place. Spirit earned another 25 points and strengthened their hold on second place in the Valve Regional Standings, while NAVI lost 11 points but remained fourth.
What’s next?
With the victories, Falcons and Spirit moved into the 1-0 pool of Stage 3 at IEM Cologne Major 2026. G2 and Natus Vincere, meanwhile, dropped to the 0-1 bracket and will look to recover in the next round as the Swiss stage continues.
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.
