Today, June 4, marks the third playday of IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage 1. The pressure inside the Swiss bracket continues to grow. After two days of competition, the teams have split into the 2–1 and 1–2 groups. As a result, every series now carries enormous importance. Several teams can secure a place in Stage 2 with a 3–1 record. Meanwhile, others are fighting to avoid elimination. By the end of the day, four squads will leave the Major with a 1–3 score.
Schedule for the day
The third day of Stage 1 is built around two crucial groups. Teams with a 2–1 record are only one victory away from advancing to Stage 2, while the 1–2 teams face elimination and have no room for mistakes.
Elimination matches (Best of 3 / LAN)
- 15:00 CET: THUNDER dOWNUNDER vs FlyQuest
- 15:00 CET: TYLOO vs Sharks
- 20:00 CET: Liquid vs HEROIC
Matches for qualification to Stage 2 (Best of 3 / LAN)
- 17:30 CET: GamerLegion vs BIG
- 17:30 CET: MIBR vs Lynn Vision
- 20:00 CET: M80 vs NRG
The spotlight today will be on the qualification matches, where four teams will secure their places in Stage 2 with a 3–1 record. At the same time, the opening elimination series will decide which teams will become the next participants to leave the Major after a 1–3 finish.
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Live broadcast
The third day of IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage 1 could prove to be decisive for many teams. Unlike the opening Best of 1 matches, every series is now played in a Best of 3 format, reducing the possibility of upsets and putting more emphasis on preparation and consistency.
As the Swiss bracket narrows, the difference between success and elimination becomes smaller than ever. One victory is enough to reach Stage 2, while one defeat means the end of the journey in Cologne.
We will update the article throughout the day: match results, changes in the Swiss standings, the list of teams that qualified for Stage 2, and the teams whose Major campaigns came to an end.
Interim and final results
After two days of competition, the Swiss bracket has entered its decisive phase. Today’s matches will determine the next teams to qualify for Stage 2 with a 3–1 record, while four rosters will be eliminated from the tournament after finishing with a 1–3 score.
After the matches are completed, the results and the current standings of the teams in the Swiss bracket will be updated here:
Elimination matches (Best of 3 / LAN)
- THUNDER dOWNUNDER vs FlyQuest — 0:2
- TYLOO vs Sharks — 2:1
- Liquid vs HEROIC — 2:0
Matches for qualification to Stage 2 (Best of 3 / LAN)
- GamerLegion vs BIG — 2:0
- MIBR vs Lynn Vision — 2:0
- M80 vs NRG — 2:0
Current group distribution
Group 3–1: GamerLegion, MIBR, M80
Group 2–2: FlyQuest, TYLOO, BIG, Lynn Vision, Liquid, NRG
Group 1–3: THUNDER dOWNUNDER, Sharks, Heroic
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Skin.Club Pick’em ChallengeВ
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.
