The elimination matches of Stage 2 at IEM Cologne Major 2026 brought an end to the tournament for both FlyQuest and GamerLegion. paiN kept their hopes alive by defeating the Australians in a clean two-map series, while B8 survived a three-map battle against GamerLegion to move to the 1-2 pool and earn another chance to stay in Cologne.
paiN eliminate FlyQuest in a two-map series
With both teams entering the match at 0-2, there was no room for mistakes. paiN looked more composed from the beginning and secured victories on Nuke and Anubis to close out the series 2-0.
On Nuke, the Brazilian side successfully defended their map pick and claimed a 13-7 win. FlyQuest attempted to respond on Anubis, but paiN controlled the crucial rounds and finished the series with another 13-10 victory.
Rafael “saffee” Costa was the standout performer of the series. The experienced AWPer finished with a 1.32 rating across both maps, supported by Guilherme “piriajr” Barbosa (1.19) and Rodrigo “biguzera” Bittencourt (1.09). For FlyQuest, Joshua “INS” Potter was the only player to end above a 1.10 rating.
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paiN stay alive, FlyQuest say goodbye
The victory allowed paiN to improve to a 1-2 record and remain in contention for a Stage 3 spot. They also gained 12 VRS points and retained their place around the top 20.
For FlyQuest, however, the defeat marked the end of their IEM Cologne Major 2026 campaign. The Australians exited Stage 2 with a 0-3 record and lost five VRS points.
Team reactions
paiN celebrated the victory on X and wrote:
RESPIRA, TAMO VIVO
The Brazilians emphasized that they were still fighting for a place in Stage 3 and thanked fans for their support. FlyQuest also posted a farewell message:
End of the road at the IEM Cologne Major.
The organization thanked supporters for standing behind the team throughout the event and shared a “Thank You” graphic after their elimination.
B8 outlast GamerLegion in a dramatic decider
The second elimination match proved to be one of the most entertaining series of the day. B8 and GamerLegion traded map wins before the Ukrainian squad prevailed on Nuke to secure a 2-1 victory.
GamerLegion started strongly by winning their own pick, Inferno, 13-11. B8 answered immediately on Mirage with a 13-8 victory, forcing a deciding map. Nuke turned into a tense affair, but B8 held their nerve and closed out the map 13-11 to complete the comeback.
Andrii “npl” Kukharskyi finished as B8’s highest-rated player with a 1.30 rating, while Artem “kensizor” Kapran posted a 1.22 rating. GamerLegion’s best performer was Oldřich “PR” Nový, who recorded a 1.33 rating across the series.
B8 move on, GamerLegion eliminated
The victory pushed B8 into the 1-2 pool and earned the Ukrainian team 28 VRS points, moving them up to 17th place in the rankings. More importantly, the squad kept their Major run alive and will have another chance to fight for Stage 3.
For GamerLegion, the defeat meant elimination from the tournament. After entering Cologne as one of the favorites to reach the final stage, the European squad finished with a disappointing 0-3 record and dropped to 13th in the VRS standings.
Team reactions
B8 celebrated their victory with a simple message:
Move to 1-2 GGs to @GamerLegion
The organization shared a victory graphic featuring npl after the decisive map. GamerLegion published an emotional farewell post:
Heartbroken. We’re out of the Cologne Major.
The team acknowledged the disappointing result but also pointed to their rise through the season and thanked fans for their support. With FlyQuest and GamerLegion eliminated, paiN and B8 remain alive in Stage 2 and will need two more victories to secure a place in Stage 3 of the IEM Cologne Major 2026.
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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.
