Today, June 2, the first stage of IEM Cologne Major 2026 begins in Cologne. Sixteen teams are starting in a Swiss format and fighting for qualification to Stage 2: three wins secure advancement, while three losses mean elimination.
Schedule for the day
The first playday of Stage 1 begins with eight BO1 matches, where every map carries critical importance for the start of the Major. Right after the opening series, the teams will split into the winners’ and lower sections of the Swiss bracket, which means that a bad start will immediately increase the pressure in the next matches.
13:30 CET: M80 vs Lynn Vision, SINNERS vs FlyQuest
14:30 CET: B8 vs TYLOO, MIBR vs THUNDER dOWNUNDER
15:30 CET: GamerLegion vs NRG, HEROIC vs Sharks
16:30 CET: BetBoom vs Gaimin Gladiators, BIG vs Liquid
Special attention in the opening round should be paid to the matches BIG vs Liquid, HEROIC vs Sharks, and the potentially unpredictable clash between B8 and TYLOO. Later in the evening, the second round of the Swiss stage will begin, where teams with the same record will receive new opponents, and the tournament situation will start to shape the first favorites and outsiders of the day.
Second Round Schedule
18:30 CET: HEROIC vs Lynn Vision, B8 vs THUNDER dOWNUNDER
19:30 CET: MIBR vs TYLOO, SINNERS vs NRG
20:30 CET: GamerLegion vs FlyQuest, M80 vs Sharks
21:30 CET: BetBoom vs Liquid, BIG vs Gaimin Gladiators
The second round will already provide a clearer picture of the Stage 1 hierarchy. Several teams will have the chance to move to a 2-0 record and get within one win of qualification, while others will be fighting to avoid falling into the dangerous 0-2 bracket. By the end of the day, the first favorites and early surprises of the Major are likely to emerge.
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Live broadcast
The opening day features eight BO1 matches that will shape the initial groups of the Swiss bracket.
Right after the first round, the teams will split into the 1–0 and 0–1 groups, which immediately raises the value of every next map.
We will update the article throughout the day: match results, changes in the Swiss bracket, and the final standings of the teams.
Interim and final results
In Stage 1, all teams begin with a 0–0 record. The winners of the opening matches will move to the 1–0 group, while the losers will fall into the 0–1 group. By the end of the day, it will become clear who has confidently moved closer to Stage 2 and who is already forced to play under the pressure of an early-elimination risk.
After the completion of the first-round matches, the results and the current position of the teams in the Swiss bracket will be updated here:
Round 1 (0–0)
- FlyQuest def. SINNERS — 16:14
- M80 def. Lynn Vision — 13:8
- THUNDER dOWNUNDER def. MIBR — 13:6
- B8 def. TYLOO — 13:6
- Sharks def. Heroic — 13:10
- GamerLegion def. NRG — 13:10
- BetBoom def. Gaimin Gladiators — 13:4
- Liquid def. BIG — 13:10
Current group distribution
- Group 1–0: FlyQuest, M80, THUNDER dOWNUNDER, B8, Sharks, GamerLegion, BetBoom, Liquid
- Group 0–1: SINNERS, Lynn Vision, MIBR, TYLOO, Heroic, NRG, Gaimin Gladiators, BIG
Round 2
- Lynn Vision def. Heroic — 13:11
- B8 def. THUNDER dOWNUNDER — 13:11
Current group distribution
- Group 2–0:B8
- Group 1–1:Lynn Vision, THUNDER dOWNUNDER
- Group 0–2:Heroic
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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.
