IEM Cologne Stage 2 bracket set: NaVi v FaZe headlines Day 1

Stage 1 at Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Cologne wrapped with a flurry of Counter-Strike 2 matches and a main‑stage bracket that promises fireworks. The headliner was Astralis surviving a gruelling double-header, as they were beaten 2‑0 by a rampant FURIA Esports in the afternoon, then regrouped to edge paiN Gaming 2‑1 in the nightcap to claim the final ticket to Stage 2.

That result completed the 16‑team lineup and set up an opening‑round clash between Natus Vincere and FaZe Clan, arguably the pick of Saturday’s fixtures. Team Vitality were paired with Astralis, while G2 Esports face FURIA. The action on Sunday is headlined by MOUZ vs Team Liquid and Team Spirit vs HEROIC.

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  Fast Payouts

FURIA’s qualification owed much to a blistering start on both maps against Astralis. Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato led the way as the Brazilians held off late Danish rallies to close Nuke 13‑11 and Dust2 13‑9, with Mareks “YEKINDAR” Gaļinskis’s clutch moments punctuating a composed 2‑0 win. The victory, coupled with a day one win over FlyQuest, made for a restorative day after a shaky Belgrade.

Liquid also punched through to the main event at IEM Cologne, but their route was messier. They traded dominant holds on each other’s picks with FlyQuest before Kamil “siuhy” Szkaradek’s men steadied in the decider to take the series 2‑1. For the new‑look Australian outfit, a promising debut with Justin “jks” Savage ended with lessons to bank rather than scalps, while Liquid’s reward is a Sunday date with MOUZ.

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  The bookies' bookie

HEROIC produced one of the day’s cleaner statements, dispatching a stuttering Virtus.pro in straight maps. Overpass (13‑8) showcased a sturdier A‑hold anchored by Linus “⁠nilo⁠” Bergman and Gleb “⁠gr1ks⁠” Gazin; on Mirage (13‑10), Andrey “⁠tN1R⁠” Tatarinovich’s 27‑kill performance, capped by an ace, broke VP’s resistance and extended a grim run of form for the majority‑Russian lineup.

Elsewhere, 3DMAX burst TYLOO’s post‑Belgrade bubble. A chaotic, marathon 22‑20 on Inferno set the tone before the French side overturned a 3‑9 deficit on Ancient to win 13‑10 and seal their berth, sending the FISSURE Playground #1 champions home.

Earlier, paiN eliminated BIG in their home country with a gritty Inferno decider—Jon “JDC” de Castro’s monster counter-terrorist side on Ancient was not enough to stop a Brazilian surge highlighted by Fraco “dgt” Garcia ace clutch and João “snow” Vinicius’s closing 1v1. paiN’s run ended in the late decider as Astralis claimed a bacl-and-forth 2-1 series win to move on.

Saturday’s IEM Cologne matches

Stage 2 at IEM Cologne will kick off on Saturday, July 26. Check out all of the matches below, with odds courtesy of the best esports betting sites.

• Team Falcons (-714.29 with BetOnline) vs GamerLegion (+400 with SportsBetting) @ 1:30pm CEST
• G2 Esports (-120.48 with BetOnline) vs FURIA Esports (-120.48 with BetOnline) @ 1:30pm CEST
• Team Vitality (-909.09 with BetOnline) vs Astralis (+500 with SportsBetting) @ 4pm CEST
• The MongolZ (-400 with BetOnline) vs 3DMAX (+275 with BetOnline) @ 4pm CEST
• Aurora (-125 with BetOnline) vs Ninjas in Pyjamas (-111.11 with SportsBetting) @ 6:30pm CEST
• Natus Vincere (-151.52 with BetOnline) vs FaZe Clan (+110 with BetOnline) @ 6:30pm CEST