The Swiss format buzzsaw at the IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage 1 concluded on June 5, delivering the eight sides that would join eight higher-ranked teams in Stage 2. After four days of best-of-one wars at the Palladium, the field crystallized.
Stage 1 Qualifiers
- B8
- BetBoom
- GamerLegion
- M80
- MIBR
- TYLOO
- BIG
- FlyQuest
Notable Eliminations
Some familiar names dropped out:
- Heroic — the Danish side went 1-3 and were eliminated
- NRG — the North American squad could not survive the middle bracket
- SINNERS — the Czech-Slovak first-time Major team went home early
- Gaimin Gladiators — the CIS mix was overwhelmed
- Lynn Vision — the Chinese side struggled
- Sharks — despite an opening upset over Heroic
- THUNDER dOWNUNDER — backed up their opening upset over MIBR with a strong Stage 1 campaign.
What's Next
The eight qualifiers join eight direct Stage 2 invitees. This second Swiss stage runs from June 6-9, again played at the Palladium in front of live crowds. The eight surviving teams from Stage 2 advance to Stage 3 — where every match is a best-of-three for the first time at a Major.
Sticker Market Analysis
Eliminated teams saw their sticker prices drop sharply, as expected. FlyQuest and B8 sticker interest remained stable given both teams still had upside. THUNDER stickers ticked up modestly on the strength of their surprise campaign.
All eyes turn to Stage 2, where major favorites like Team Vitality, Team Spirit, Aurora Gaming, and Team Falcons will finally take the stage.
