Today, June 9, the fourth and final playday of IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage 2 will take place. After three days of competition, the Swiss bracket has reached its final stage — the 2–2 group, where teams have their last chance to continue the fight for a place in Stage 3.
All of today’s matches will carry the same weight: a win means qualification to Stage 3 with a 3–2 record, while a loss will end a team’s run in the tournament with a 2–3 result. By the end of the day, the final three participants of the next stage will be determined, as well as the final list of teams whose journey at IEM Cologne Major 2026 will end already in Stage 2.
Schedule for the day
The fourth day of Stage 2 is fully dedicated to the 2–2 group matches. The teams no longer have any room for error — every series will become a direct fight for survival and the last chance to break through to Stage 3. All matches will be played in the Best of 3 (LAN) format, where map pool depth, adaptation, and psychological stability come to the forefront.
Matches for qualification to Stage 3 (Best of 3 / LAN)
15:00 CET: Monte vs paiN
17:30 CET: Legacy vs TYLOO
20:00 CET: BIG vs B8
Today, every match is effectively a final for both teams. The winners will finish Stage 2 with a 3–2 record and join the Stage 3 participants, while the losers will end their run at IEM Cologne Major 2026 with a 2–3 result.
Live broadcast
The fourth day of IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage 2 will be the final test for the teams still left in contention. If the previous days still allowed room for error, now every map could become the last one of the tournament.
All matches today are played in the Best of 3 (LAN) format, which greatly reduces the randomness factor and makes individual form, preparation, and adaptation the key factors of success.
We will update the article throughout the day: match results, the final Swiss bracket, the list of the final Stage 3 participants, and the teams that have ended their run at the tournament.
Interim and final results
After three days of Stage 2, the Swiss bracket has moved close to its conclusion. Today, the final teams that will advance to Stage 3 with a 3–2 record will be determined, and the full list of participants who will finish their run with a 2–3 result will also be finalized.
After the matches are completed, the results and the current standings of the teams in the Swiss bracket will be updated here:
2–2 group matches (Best of 3 / LAN)
- Monte vs paiN — 2:0
- Legacy vs TYLOO — 2:0
- BIG vs B8 — 1:2
Current Stage 3 status
- Stage 3: Monte, Legacy, B8.
- Eliminated: paiN, TYLOO, BIG.
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.
