FalleN on Third Cologne Win: "No Other Player Has Done that yet; It Would Be a Cherry on Top for...
FURIA swept Stage 3 of the IEM Cologne Major with a 3‑0 record, securing a playoff berth and capping the run with a dominant win over BetBoom. Veteran captain Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo will return to the LANXESS Arena for a final appearance before retiring at the end of 2026, a venue where he captured two previous majors. FalleN said the emotional weight of a possible third Cologne title – a feat no other player has achieved – drives his focus as he balances leadership with the team’s evolving strategy. The momentum positions FURIA as a strong contender while the retirement narrative fuels fan interest.
BB's CT Dominance Nets Them Win over Falcons
BetBoom extended its surprise run at the Cologne Major by defeating the Falcons 13‑11 on Nuke and 13‑10 on Ancient, moving to a 2‑0 record in the Stage 3 pool. The win puts BetBoom one victory away from a playoff berth,...
Monte Put PARIVISION on the Precipice After Dominant Inferno Decider
Monte defeated PARIVISION 13‑7 on Mirage and 13‑5 on Inferno to secure a spot in Stage 3 of the CS2 Major. Kazakh veteran Dastan “dastan” Akbayev altered his squad’s preparation, while in‑game leader Jack “Gizmy” von Spreckelsen orchestrated the win. Monte’s players...
Brollan: "MOUZ Have Been Very Direct that I Could Have a Future Here"
Ludvig "Brollan" Brolin was benched by MOUZ after IEM Rio, but returned for the IEM Cologne Major, helping the team secure a 1‑0 win over Legacy. MOUZ promoted academy talent Adrian "xelex" Vincze and installed Dorian "xertioN" Berman as the...
ZywOo Recovers From First Map Disappearance to Dominate FUT
Vitality rebounded from a heavy Anubis loss to defeat FUT 2‑1 at the IEM Cologne Major, with French star Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut delivering a dominant display on Overpass and Nuke. ZywOo’s rating surged from 0.68 on Anubis to 2.38 on...
Luchov's 2.00-rated Series Powers 9z to Victory over PARIVISION
9z extended their strong run at the IEM Cologne Major by defeating PARIVISION 2‑1 in Stage 3, with Luciano “luchov” Herrera delivering a 2.00 rating and a 91.2% KAST across three maps. The South American squad took the first map Overpass...
B8 Clinch Last Stage 3 Berth over BIG in Cologne
B8 clinched a top‑16 berth at the IEM Cologne Major by edging out BIG 2‑1 in the final Stage 2 decider. Danylo “s1zzi” Vinnyk posted back‑to‑back 1.49‑rated performances, dominating on Ancient and Overpass. The series swung on a Dust2 ace from...
Legacy Dominate TYLOO to Reach IEM Cologne Major Stage 3
Legacy Brazil clinched a spot in the IEM Cologne Major Stage 3 by beating China’s TYLOO in a decisive best‑of‑three. The Brazilians swept Mirage 13‑7 and dominated Inferno 13‑4, repeating a victory they had secured a month earlier at the CS...
Gizmy: "Making Stage Three Is What We Wanted From the Beginning, I'm Very Proud of the Team"
Monte, the European CS:GO underdog, secured a Stage 3 finish at the CCT Finals, a milestone the team set out to achieve. IGL Jack “Gizmy” von Spreckelsen highlighted new default variations and louder player communication as key upgrades. Coach Alexander “kakafu”...
Matchups Determined for Final Round of Stage 2
The International Esports Federation (IEM) Cologne Major’s Stage 2 has narrowed to six contenders, setting the stage for the final elimination round on September 6, 2026. Monte will meet Brazil’s paiN in a tight VRS‑ranked showdown, while Legacy and TYLOO renew their CS Asia...
B8 Eliminate MIBR to Continue Recovery From 0-2
Ukrainian squad B8 eliminated Brazil’s MIBR 2‑1 in the IEM Cologne Major Stage 2, moving into the 2‑2 pool and extending their comeback from a 0‑2 start. The win followed a dramatic reverse‑sweep against GamerLegion, showcasing B8’s resilience on both Mirage...
B8 Come Back From 2-9 Down on Nuke Decider to Eliminate GamerLegion
B8 survived a tense three‑map series to stay in the IEM Cologne Major, edging GamerLegion 2‑1 after narrow 13‑11 wins on Inferno and Nuke surrounding an 8‑13 loss on Mirage. The Ukrainian squad erased a 2‑9 deficit on the Nuke...
PaiN Stay Alive at FlyQuest's Expense
FlyQuest was eliminated from the IEM Cologne Major after a 0‑3 record in Stage 2, falling 2‑0 to Brazil’s paiN. The North American squad had barely survived Stage 1, beating THUNDER dOWNUNDER and Liquid, but struggled against three South American opponents in Stage 2....
Bymas on Tilt Issues Vs. Legacy: "These Matches Are Way Too Important to Lose Our Heads"
Monte entered the Cologne Major as an underdog but quickly proved its mettle, beating BIG in the opener and pushing G2 Esports to three overtime periods. The team then defeated Legacy 13‑11, moving to a 2‑1 pool record. In a...
FaveN: "If BIG Would Give Me a 10-Year Contract I Would Probably Sign It, because I'm Really Happy"
Josef “faveN” Baumann returned to German esports organization BIG ahead of the IEM Cologne Major, helping the squad secure wins over paiN and MIBR after a dramatic 0‑12 comeback in Stage 1. The 26‑year‑old, who previously left BIG for BLEED and...
Max: "I Hope This Team Can Be Tier-One, We Are Working on That"
South American squad 9z entered the Cologne Major with modest expectations but opened the event with a 2‑0 sweep, defeating FlyQuest and Astralis to secure three tournament lives. The team credited a two‑week, 100‑hour practice grind and a refreshed coaching...
IEM Cologne Major Stage 2 Opening Matchups Set
The IEM Cologne Major has released its Stage 2 opening slate, featuring eight fresh entrants and a series of high‑profile matchups. PGL Astana champions Spirit will open against BetBoom in a Russian derby, while Legacy takes on Brazil’s MIBR. Astralis faces...
MIBR Ease Past Lynn Vision Into Stage 2
MIBR secured a 2‑0 sweep over Lynn Vision to move into Stage 2 of the IEM Cologne Major. The Brazilian squad, after a shaky start in Stage 1, rebounded with solid wins over TYLOO and Liquid before the decisive victory. Insani delivered...
Koala on Sharks' Exit: "It's Not the Map Pool for Me, It's More About the Confidence of the Team"
Sharks exited the Cologne Major without a win on any map except Nuke, losing three straight after a narrow opening loss to HEROIC. Captain João “koala” Pfeffer blamed the team’s lack of confidence rather than the map pool, noting that...
JamYoung Powers TYLOO to Victory over Sharks in Elimination Match
TYLOU defeated Sharks in the IEM Cologne Major 1‑2 pool decider on Anubis, securing a spot in the final 2‑2 pool while eliminating the Brazilian squad. Yi “JamYoung” Yang earned player‑of‑the‑series honors with a 1.87 overall rating and a standout...
On the Ground at IEM Cologne Major Stage 1
Day one of the IEM Cologne Major kicked off with several surprising results on Stage 1. HEROIC dropped both matches, while M80, B8 and Thunder Downunder posted 2‑0 victories. Team Liquid’s NAF expressed disappointment over the organization’s recent performance, and ESL honored...
HEROIC on Brink of Elimination After Day 1
HEROIC became the first team to fall into the 0‑2 pool on day one of the IEM Cologne Major after a tight Dust2 loss to Lynn Vision. The Danish squad, led by Chr1zN, extended its seven‑match losing streak that began...
Round 2 Set to Start as Liquid Edge Out BIG
Round 1 of the IEM Cologne Major 2026 concluded with eight teams posting 1‑0 records in the group‑Swiss stage. Liquid edged BIG 13‑10, while BetBoom demolished Gaimin Gladiators 13‑4 for the most decisive victory. Thunder DOWNUNDER pulled off the day’s first upset, beating...
THREAT Departs NIP
Björn “THREAT” Pers announced his departure from Ninjas in Pyjamas, ending a three‑year tenure as General Manager of the CS:GO squad. He first joined NIP as head coach in 2016, guiding the team to two IEM Oakland titles before moving...
Jks: "It's a Bit Demotivating but We Have to Have Better Results so that We Can Play These Events"
FlyQuest entered 2026 with a dismal 85th‑place VRS ranking after a 0‑3 exit at the Budapest Major and only 46 official maps played, none at MVP events. Geographic dispersion—players in Europe, Australia and elsewhere—has limited five‑man practice, forcing the squad...
Parken Challenger Championship Circuit Shuts Down over Financial Troubles
New Breed Agency ApS, the organizer of the Parken Challenger Championship (PCC), has filed for bankruptcy, leading to the cancellation of the nine remaining 2026 events. The circuit had just announced an expansion to 24 teams per tournament and a...
Sticker Fans Come Here Ft. Messioso
Valve introduced a new sticker revenue model for the IEM Cologne Major, granting players a direct share of the total sticker pool. The change alters existing contracts that previously allocated a portion of team earnings, prompting disputes between organizations and...
How Bymas Crowned His Career Revival with Major Return
Lithuanian rifler Aurimas “Bymas” Pipiras secured his first in‑game sticker by qualifying for the IEM Cologne Major with Monte, capping a five‑year journey that began with a brief, high‑profile stint at FaZe. After early turbulence—including a short FaZe tenure, a productive period at...
PARIVISION, B8, Monte to Attend XSE Pro League
The XSE Pro League announced three new invites—PARIVISION, B8 and Monte—for its $1 million CS:GO tournament in China, scheduled for July 1‑12. The additions bring the confirmed field to twelve teams, including established names like FaZe, Legacy and BetBoom. The event is...
A Conversation with BCG's CEO: Landing S1mple, Shopping for a Core, and Top-5 Goals
BC.Game, the crypto‑casino‑backed esports organization, secured CS:GO superstar s1mple in July 2025 and later bought the SAW core for an estimated $8 million, only to see the roster underperform and undergo mid‑season benchings. The team’s results fell short of major qualification,...
The Art of the Pre-Major Hail Mary
Falcons dismantled their five‑man roster weeks before IEM Cologne Major 2026 to bring veteran IGL Finn “karrigan” Andersen on board, a textbook pre‑Major Hail Mary. The piece surveys similar last‑minute roster overhauls – s1mple’s emergency stint with FaZe at Austin...
Virtus.pro Debut with MPKBK LAN Victory
Virtus.pro debuted its revamped roster by winning the WINLINE MPKBK CIS LAN Season 5, taking the $30,000 prize and a 300‑point VRS boost. The squad, rebuilt around veteran mir and four teenage players, completed a month‑long bootcamp in Serbia before the...
HLTV Confirmed: IEM Cologne Major Preview
HLTV Confirmed has assembled analysts Chad "SPUNJ" Burchill, Milan "Striker" Švejda, and Zvonimir "Professeur" Burazin to preview the IEM Cologne Major, the first Cologne Major since 2016. The three‑hour show will recap the 2026 season, dissect map trends, and rank...
TDK, M80 and ShindeN Qualify for EPL S24
TDK, M80 and ShindeN earned spots in ESL Pro League Season 24 by winning their regional ESL Challenger League Season 51 finals in Europe, North America and South America. Their victories secure berths at the $1 million LAN event in Katowice, Poland, scheduled...
Digital Crusade Confirm $150k 'Super DraculaN'
Digital Crusade announced a $150,000 prize pool for DraculaN Season 7, branded “Super DraculaN.” The tournament runs June 23‑28 in Bucharest, overlapping the post‑Cologne Major break, with public playoffs on June 27‑28. Sixteen teams, including FaZe, Liquid, Aurora and M80, will compete for...
Fluxo Confirm dav1deuS and Ltz Signings
Fluxo announced the acquisition of veteran rifler David “dav1deuS” Tapia Maldonado and rising star João “Ltz” Bonetti, filling the void left by the recent departures of mlhzin and kye. dav1deuS returns after a brief hiatus following RED Canids’ roster purge, while...
Alliance Get Revenge on EYEBALLERS in Swedish Derby Rematch to Conquer Prague
Alliance captured the Tipsport Conquest of Prague 2026 Finals, defeating fellow Swedish side EYEBALLERS in a three‑map grand final after rebounding from an upper‑bracket loss. The squad edged Inferno 22‑20 in overtime, then won Overpass 13‑5 and Ancient 13‑9, with...
Fer: "I Can't Handle the Player Life Nowadays, so I Told Them I Could Practice for a Month and Play...
Veteran Brazilian CS2 player Fernando “fer” Alvarenga has signed a short‑term deal with Gaimin Gladiators to compete in the IEM Cologne Major, marking his first Major appearance since IEM Rio 2022. The roster has just over a week to practice...
Falcons Beat MOUZ in Shanghai to Make Second Consecutive Grand Final
Falcons clinched a spot in the CS Asia Championships grand final by defeating MOUZ 3‑2 across Mirage, Dust2 and Nuke. The win marks the Saudi‑backed organization’s second consecutive grand‑final appearance since hiring veteran captain Finn "karrigan" Andersen. Key moments included...
![Spinx: "Everyone Is Suffering because of the Vitality Era, Every [Title] You Can Get Is Important"](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://img-cdn.hltv.org/gallerypicture/9e-2rrDWRdbkVfDgMUoDAZ.jpg?auto=compress&ixlib=java-2.1.0&m=%2Fm.png&mw=107&mx=20&my=473&q=75&w=800&s=78d18b780b7c3f3c96239850f834d824)
Spinx: "Everyone Is Suffering because of the Vitality Era, Every [Title] You Can Get Is Important"
MOUZ advanced to the CS Asia Championships semi‑finals on May 23, 2026, after a strong run that includes recent roster upgrades with Justinas “jL” Lekavicius and Adrian “xelex” Vincze. Team captain Lotan “Spinx” Giladi highlighted the scarcity of tournament victories in the current...
The MongolZ Into CAC Playoffs as PARIVISION Crisis Continues
The MongolZ secured a quarter‑final berth at the CS Asia Championships by defeating PARIVISION 2‑0, rebounding from a weak showing at PGL Astana. The win sets up a clash with Legacy later today. PARIVISION’s performance continued to decline, with visible...
MOUZ Dominate paiN en Route to CAC Playoffs
MOUZ secured a decisive 2‑0 victory over Brazil's paiN on Nuke and Overpass, earning a spot in the CS Asia Championships playoffs. The win marked back‑to‑back playoff berths for MOUZ’s revamped lineup, highlighted by xelex’s monster 2.53 rating and xertioN’s...
Valve Release IEM Cologne Major Stickers
Valve announced the IEM Cologne Major sticker lineup and a new Viewer Pass, introducing a token‑based marketplace that replaces the traditional capsule‑unboxing model. Individual stickers can be bought with tokens, and their price rises with demand; a partial refund triggers...
Lake on Major Chances: "We Just Gotta Iron some Stuff Out, and I Think We'll Make a Good Run"
M80 were knocked out of the CS Asia Championships, finishing 9th‑12th after a 2‑1 loss to MOUZ, despite a strong Inferno win. Captain Mason “Lake” Sanderson highlighted map‑specific weaknesses on Overpass and Mirage and praised the team’s BO1 victory over...
Official: Esports World Cup Moved to Paris*
The Esports World Cup Foundation has shifted its $75 million festival from Riyadh to Paris, citing the ongoing conflict in Iran. All announced titles, tournaments and competitive formats remain unchanged, though broadcast schedules may adjust to European time zones. The Counter‑Strike...
TYLOO Stun MOUZ as CAC Kicks Off
TYLOO opened the CS Asia Championships 2026 with a 13‑7 victory over MOUZ on Inferno, establishing early tournament momentum. Mercury Wang’s aggressive play helped secure the map, while Moseyuh led TYLOO with a 17‑6 score and a 1.65 rating. In...
Short News: Week 20
Virtus.pro announced via Telegram that Petr “fame” Bolyshev’s loan at K27 has been extended for an additional month, keeping the 23‑year‑old rifler in the lineup for upcoming events. In a separate interview, Pavle “Maden” Bošković expressed confidence that he can...
![W0nderful: "I Knew One Day I Would Get [an MVP]"](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://img-cdn.hltv.org/gallerypicture/hIjxj1oKlqKX6-NHV8d9oY.jpg?auto=compress&ixlib=java-2.1.0&m=%2Fm.png&mw=107&mx=20&my=474&q=75&w=800&s=52a8065fe24a9829a488376692dc7dfb)
W0nderful: "I Knew One Day I Would Get [an MVP]"
Natus Vincere captured its second 2026 trophy by winning IEM Atlanta, defeating BetBoom and GamerLegion in the finals. The squad finally ended a long losing streak to Vitality in the quarter‑finals, showcasing a dominant run. Sniper Ihor “w0nderful” Zhdanov earned his first...
Legacy Destroy BetBoom to Claim Third in Atlanta
Legacy secured third place at IEM Atlanta, sweeping BetBoom 26‑7 on Mirage (13‑4) and Nuke (13‑3). Brazilian star Bruno “latto” led the charge with a 2.21 rating, followed by solid contributions from dumau and arT. The victory restores confidence after...
TN1R on Reason for His Uptick in Form: "It's Really a Lot of Work on My Mentality"
Spirit defeated the Falcons 3-0 to capture the PGL Astana CS:GO title, marking the organization’s first trophy in nine months. The win was highlighted by Danil “donk” Kryshkovets earning MVP honors with a 1.61 rating. Belarusian star Andrey “tN1R” Tatarinovich...