The IEM Cologne Major 2026 grand final ended 3-0 in Team Falcons' favor. Every map ended 13-8, a scoreline that concealed just how close the games were in the early rounds before Falcons pulled away in the second halves. Here's the tactical breakdown.
The Veto
Falcons picked Mirage. FURIA picked Inferno. Anubis was the decider — technically Falcons' second pick.
Map 1: Mirage — Falcons 13-8
Falcons opened with a strong CT half, using m0NESY on connector for early AWP picks. FURIA's mid control attempts were repeatedly punished. Falcons finished the half 8-4.
The T half was clinical. karrigan mixed A executes with quick B runs, and NiKo was clutch in the retake rounds. Mirage closed 13-8.
Map 2: Anubis — Falcons 13-8
Anubis followed a similar pattern. Falcons' CT half was structured, and m0NESY's AWP presence in mid was decisive. FURIA's traditional A executes were dry-run to the wrong point.
On the T side, Falcons' precision continued. NiKo and TeSeS both had clutch retake rounds. 13-8 for the second straight time.
Map 3: Inferno — Falcons 13-8
FURIA's Inferno was supposed to be the Brazilians' safety net. Instead, Falcons defended banana masterfully. m0NESY's mid picks in the T half were decisive. NiKo's late-round clutches sealed the deal.
The 13-8 pattern held. Falcons had won three maps by exactly the same scoreline — a rare grand-final feat.
Key Round Analysis
- Mirage Round 13: m0NESY 3K on CT window flip — Falcons' half-turning kill
- Anubis Round 17: NiKo 4K retake on A — series-defining round
- Inferno Round 22: karrigan's economic call to force after a lost pistol — flipped momentum
Coach's Corner
zonic's tactical prep clearly outdid sidde's. The map veto and gameplan execution were on Falcons' side from the start.
