Today, June 6, the second stage of IEM Cologne Major 2026 begins. Sixteen teams remain in the tournament and continue their journey through the Swiss format, where three victories secure a place in the playoffs and three defeats mean elimination from the Major. Several new contenders enter the competition in Stage 2, joining the teams that successfully advanced from the opening phase. As a result, the level of opposition rises significantly, and every map becomes even more important.
Schedule for the day
The opening day of Stage 2 starts with eight BO1 matches. These series will establish the first 1–0 and 0–1 groups and provide an early indication of which teams are ready to challenge for the playoffs.
Round 1 (0–0)
- 13:30 CET: Astralis vs GamerLegion, 9z vs FlyQuest
- 14:30 CET: FUT vs B8, paiN vs TYLOO
- 15:30 CET: G2 vs M80, Monte vs BIG
- 16:30 CET: Spirit vs BetBoom, Legacy vs MIBR
Several interesting clashes stand out in the opening round. Astralis vs GamerLegion features two teams with plenty of Major experience, while Spirit vs BetBoom promises to be one of the highlights of the day. Meanwhile, B8 will attempt to carry their impressive Stage 1 form into another difficult matchup against FUT.
Later in the evening, the second round of the Swiss stage will begin, where teams with identical records will receive new opponents and the first outlines of the Stage 2 hierarchy will start to emerge.
Second Round Schedule
To be announced
The second round will provide a clearer picture of the balance of power in Stage 2. Some teams will have the opportunity to move to a 2–0 record and get within one victory of the playoffs, while others will already face the danger of falling to 0–2. By the end of the day, the first favorites and early surprises of Stage 2 are likely to emerge.
Live broadcast
The opening day features eight BO1 matches that will shape the first groups of the Swiss bracket.
Immediately after the first round, the teams will split into the 1–0 and 0–1 pools. Consequently, every following map will become even more valuable.
We will update the article throughout the day with match results, changes in the Swiss bracket, and the latest group standings.
Interim and final results
All teams begin Stage 2 with a 0–0 record. The winners of the opening matches will move to the 1–0 group, while the losing teams will fall into the 0–1 bracket. By the end of the day, several teams will already stand one victory away from reaching the qualification matches, while others will begin facing early pressure.
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)
Astralis vs GamerLegion — X:X
9z vs FlyQuest — X:X
FUT vs B8 — X:X
paiN vs TYLOO — X:X
G2 vs M80 — X:X
Monte vs BIG — X:X
Spirit vs BetBoom — X:X
Legacy vs MIBR — X:X
Current group distribution
Group 1–0: To be updated
Group 0–1: To be updated
Round 2
To be announced
Current group distribution
Group 2–0: To be updated
Group 1–1: To be updated
Group 0–2: To be updated
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.
