The highly anticipated ESL Cologne Major Stage 1 Round 1 is underway, and opening day has given us a few shockers, as we have come to expect from opening days. As the event unfolded, the first round gave us everything we expected, from close matches to surprising upsets. It has been a treat to witness the opening of a Counter-Strike Major.
Results
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 | Map |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIG | 10–13 | Liquid | Nuke |
| BetBoom | 13–4 | Gaimin Gladiators | Dust2 |
| GamerLegion | 13–10 | NRG | Inferno |
| HEROIC | 10–13 | Sharks | Nuke |
| B8 | 13–6 | TYLOO | Mirage |
| MIBR | 6–13 | THUNDER dOWNUNDER | Inferno |
| SINNERS | 14–16 | FlyQuest | Ancient |
| M80 | 13–8 | Lynn Vision | Inferno |
As it happened
M80 eased past Asian giants Lynn Vision to kick off the Major as FlyQuest closed a dragged-out match against SINNERS. THUNDER dOWNUNDER managed to pull off the first upset of the day as they secured a 13-6 win over MIBR, who were one of the better teams in this stage. B8 eased past TYLOO to kick off the game before Sharks pulled off the second upset of the day against HEROIC. GamerLegion pulled off a close win against NRG, where NRG managed to make a point for themselves. BetBoom breezed past Gaimin Gladiators as Liquid secured an impressive win against BIG to close out the round.
The Major is the biggest Counter-Strike event, and we are two stages away from the main event, with the opening day giving us some exciting matches to keep the excitement high for the remainder of the tournament. While opening results cannot speak to the competence of the teams, they sure set the tone for what is to come. The day is far from over, as the Round 2 matches are already underway as we speak, so tune in before you miss the action.