IEM Cologne Major Stage 2 is underway with Rounds 1 and 2 encompassing the B01 matches that will set the tone of the tournament in the coming days. With mixed results including exciting matches, upsets, and dominant wins, Stage 2’s opening day gave us that and built the anticipation in the right ways.
As it stands
| Team | M | RW | RL | RD | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit | 2 | 26 | 6 | 20 | 2-0 |
| 9z | 2 | 26 | 14 | 12 | 2-0 |
| G2 | 2 | 35 | 27 | 8 | 2-0 |
| FUT | 2 | 26 | 20 | 6 | 2-0 |
| Monte | 2 | 32 | 30 | 2 | 1-1 |
| Legacy | 2 | 21 | 20 | 1 | 1-1 |
| Astralis | 2 | 18 | 17 | 1 | 1-1 |
| TYLOO | 2 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 1-1 |
Highlights of the day
G2 stood tall, starting with a dominant win over M80. G2 was pushed to their very limit in a tough contest against Monte, which they eventually overcame to secure 2-0 on Day 1, putting them 1 win away from qualification. Joining them are FUT, Spirit, and 9Z, who won their respective games and will now fight on Day 2 for a spot in Stage 3.
Following Day 1, heavy hitters like Astralis, BIG, and Legacy now sit with a 1-1 scoreline, putting them two more matches away from having their fate decided. Several teams from this group are expected to go through, and their presence in the next Stage will make the event more exciting than ever.
In the most unexpected fashion, GameLegion and paiN sit with a 0- 2 scoreline, and the next loss will see them bow out, posting strong performances throughout the year.
Stage 2 Day 2 Matches
| Time | Format | Team 1 | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18:00 | BO1 | Monte | Legacy |
| 18:00 | BO1 | Astralis | TYLOO |
| 19:00 | BO1 | BetBoom | M80 |
| 19:00 | BO1 | MIBR | BIG |
| 20:00 | BO3 | B8 | GamerLegion |
| 20:00 | BO3 | FlyQuest | paiN |
| 22:30 | BO3 | G2 | FUT |
| 22:30 | BO3 | Spirit | 9z |
Action-packed conclusion to the opening day and Round 2 of the IEM Cologne Major Stage 2, Day 2, where we find several storylines to follow for the rest of the event. We are far from figuring out who gets to go through, but given how the results have been surprising, we are in for a rollercoaster of a Major.