IEM Cologne Major field gets smaller after early exits

The IEM Cologne Major 2026 has reached the playoff stage, with most of the 32-team field now eliminated. FURIA and Aurora have already reached the semi-finals, while G2, Spirit, Falcons and Vitality are still in the other side of the bracket.

The Counter-Strike 2 Major began with three Swiss stages before moving to the LANXESS Arena playoffs. Each stage reduced the field, leaving only the strongest teams from Stage 3 to fight for the title in Cologne.

Stage 1 ended with eight teams leaving the Major before the next round. Liquid, NRG and Lynn Vision finished with 2-3 records and missed out after late defeats.

HEROIC, Sharks and THUNDER dOWNUNDER also exited in Stage 1 after finishing 1-3. Gaimin Gladiators and SINNERS were the first teams out after going 0-3.

B8, BetBoom, M80, MIBR, GamerLegion, BIG, FlyQuest and TYLOO survived the opening stage. They moved into Stage 2, where stronger invited teams entered the tournament.

Stage 2 cut another eight teams from the Major. BIG, TYLOO and paiN ended with 2-3 records and missed Stage 3. M80, MIBR and Astralis were also eliminated after finishing 1-3. GamerLegion and FlyQuest went out at 0-3, ending their Cologne runs early.

FUT, Spirit, G2, BetBoom, 9z, B8, Legacy and Monte advanced from Stage 2. They joined the top-seeded teams already in Stage 3.

Stage 3 produced the final eight playoff teams. FURIA and Spirit advanced with perfect 3-0 records, while Aurora, Vitality and Falcons followed at 3-1.

G2, BetBoom and 9z took the final playoff spots after finishing 3-2. The MongolZ, Natus Vincere and FUT were eliminated at 2-3. MOUZ, Monte and Legacy exited at 1-3, while PARIVISION and B8 finished 0-3.

That left the Major with an eight-team playoff field.

FURIA and Aurora have already reached the semi-finals after winning their quarter-finals. FURIA beat 9z, while Aurora defeated BetBoom to remove two more teams from the title race.

The remaining live teams are FURIA, Aurora, G2, Spirit, Falcons and Vitality. Eliminated teams now include 9z and BetBoom from the playoffs, plus The MongolZ, NAVI, FUT, MOUZ, Monte, Legacy, PARIVISION, B8, BIG, TYLOO, paiN, M80, MIBR, Astralis, GamerLegion, FlyQuest, Liquid, NRG, Lynn Vision, HEROIC, Sharks, THUNDER dOWNUNDER, Gaimin Gladiators and SINNERS.