The second stage of the IEM Cologne Major has begun: Spirit, G2, and 9z have started with two wins

The second stage of the IEM Cologne Major 2026 has begun, with Spirit, G2, Astralis, paiN, Legacy, Monte, FUT, and 9z joining the tournament. Together with the teams that advanced from Stage 1, they have begun the battle for eight spots in the next stage of the tournament.

The highlight of the first round was the Team Spirit vs. BetBoom Team matchup. BetBoom entered the second stage after a confident run through Stage 1, but against Spirit, the difference in map control was evident. The Dragons won 13-5 and immediately showed that the start of the stage was no problem for them.

In the second round, Spirit cemented their lead even more convincingly, crushing MIBR 13-1. After the first day, the team finished with a 2-0 record. This doesn’t guarantee an easy path forward, but it shows that the team quickly got into the tournament rhythm.

G2 also finished the day with a 2-0 record, but their path looked different. In the first round, the team beat M80 13-8, and then played a tense match against Monte. The match on Mirage ended with a score of 22-19 in favor of G2. On the one hand, the team showed resilience; on the other, they had to expend more energy on the very first day than the favorites would have liked.

One of the most notable performances of the day came from 9z. After defeating FlyQuest 13-9, the team unexpectedly beat Astralis 13-5 on Nuke. For Astralis, the day began with a victory over GamerLegion, but the loss to 9z changed the mood.

FUT also went 2-0, defeating B8 and TYLOO. This is a strong start for the team, especially considering that both matches were quite close throughout. TYLOO, who made a name for themselves in the first stage with a comeback from a 0-2 deficit, started the second stage with a win over paiN but then lost to FUT. This doesn’t negate their consistency, but it shows that simply holding up under pressure isn’t enough at the next level of the tournament.

Among the teams starting at 1-1 were Astralis, BetBoom, BIG, Legacy, M80, MIBR, Monte, and TYLOO. B8, FlyQuest, GamerLegion, and paiN remained in the 0-2 bracket after the first day. For them, the next match will already be a do-or-die game.

For Winio, the main takeaway from Day 1 is that a 2-0 record doesn’t always indicate the same level of quality. Spirit secured their wins through dominance, G2 through control, 9z through a level gap against a higher-ranked opponent, and FUT through consistency in close matches.

That is precisely why evaluating Stage 2 based solely on the standings is insufficient. It is important to consider how a team secured its victories: through a strong map pool, opponent mistakes, or individual superiority. Fans can view the latest predictions for the IEM Cologne Major on Winio - the first five predictions are available for free.