One of the elimination matches in the 1-2 bracket of Stage 3 at IEM Cologne Major 2026 saw G2 keep their tournament hopes alive with a convincing 2-0 victory over Legacy. The European squad delivered one of their cleanest performances of the event, while the Brazilian side saw its Major campaign come to an end.
Road to the Stage
G2 entered the series with a 1-2 record after losses to Falcons and Aurora, while their only victory had come against FUT. Legacy had started Stage 3 strongly with a win over PARIVISION but then suffered consecutive defeats against NAVI and MOUZ, leaving both teams one loss away from elimination.
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G2 dominate both maps
Legacy selected Dust2, hoping to take advantage of their comfort pick, but G2 quickly seized control and secured a 13-7 victory. Nemanja “huNter-” Kovač led the way, while HeavyGod and SunPayus provided strong support to deny the Brazilians any comeback opportunities.
On Overpass, G2 looked even more convincing. Their CT side completely shut down Legacy’s attacks, and the European squad comfortably closed out the map 13-4 to complete the sweep and remain alive in Cologne.
huNter- leads the charge
Nemanja “huNter-” Kovač was the standout player of the series. The Bosnian rifler finished with a 1.38 rating, 84.5 ADR, and a +13 K-D difference across the two maps, playing a key role in keeping G2’s Major hopes alive.
VRS impact
The victory brought important gains for G2 in the Valve Regional Standings. The team earned 37 points and climbed from No.13 to No.11. Legacy, meanwhile, lost 20 points but remained sixth in the rankings despite the defeat.
Team reactions
G2 celebrated the victory with a simple question on social media:
Who’s next?
The post featured huNter- alongside the caption “Finished too fast,” reflecting the team’s dominant performance. Legacy accepted the defeat and announced the end of their Major campaign:
We wrapped up our campaign in Stage 3 with a 1/3 and closed out our first semester far from the way we wanted.
The Brazilian organization thanked fans for their support and confirmed that the team would now head into the player break.
What’s next?
With the victory, G2 improved to 2-2 and moved one step away from the playoffs. They will now play a deciding series for a place at the LANXESS Arena. Legacy, meanwhile, finish their IEM Cologne Major 2026 run in Stage 3 after ending the tournament with a 1-3 record.
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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.
