IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage 2 Day 3: Recap

The penultimate day of the IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage 2 has come to an end as Legacy kept themselves alive at the cost of M80 in the final game of the day. The day saw three teams qualify for Stage 3 and three head home as only three spots in Stage 3 remain.

If you missed the action from the third day of the IEM Cologne Major 2026, Stage 2 here's a quick look at the results.

BRACKET 1-2

The elimination games saw Astralis fight for the Major lives against paiN with the Brazilian team sending HooXi and co. home with a clean 2-0. B8 reverse swept MIBR out of the Major to stay alive while Legacy saw off M80 to keep Brazil's flag flying although M80's departure meant that for the first time in the history of CS:GO or CS2 Majors, there will be no North American teams in the top 16.

• paiN 2 -0 Astralis (Nuke 13-11, Overpass 13-4)

• B8 2 - 1 MIBR (Mirage 7-13, Nuke 13-10, Ancient 13-8)

• Legacy 2 - 0 M80 (Dust2 13-8, Inferno 16-13)

BRACKET 2-1

The qualification games meanwhile saw BetBoom see off a resilient Monte while 9z and G2 wasted no time in booking themselves a spot in Stage 3. With BetBoom, 9z and G2 confirming their place in Stage 3 from Stage 2, only three spots remain.

• BetBoom 2 - 1 Monte (Nuke 13-7, Mirage 6-13, Dust2 13-8)

• 9z 2 - 0 TYLOO (Overpass 13 - 10, Inferno 13-6)

• G2 2 - 0 BIG (Inferno 13-3, Mirage 13-8)

Standings at the IEM COLOGNE MAJOR 2026 STAGE 2 AT THE END OF DAY 3: