Team Spirit, FURIA first to clinch IEM Cologne playoff spots

Field Level Media|published: Sun 14th June, 05:08 2026

YMCA member Austin Manengu works the keyboard as he plays a game of Fortnite during the unveiling of the new gaming lab at the Maplewood Family YMCA in Rochester Thursday, June 20, 2024. YMCA of Greater Rochester in partnership with Metro Sports & Entertainment Group will open two gaming labs for youth and teens this year.

Team Spirit and FURIA punched their tickets to the playoffs of the Intel Extreme Masters Cologne Major with their third consecutive Stage 3 victories on Saturday in Germany.

Team Spirit, which earned a bye to Stage 2, and FURIA, which earned a bye to Stage 3, are the first two teams to clinch playoff spots with Round 3 high-match victories. Spirit did so with a 2-1 defeat of 9z Team while FURIA swept BetBoom Team 2-0 to advance.

In other Saturday action, B8 and PARIVISION were the first two teams eliminated from Stage after losing Round 3 low matches. B8 fell 2-1 to FUT Esports while PARIVISION lost 2-0 to Legacy.

At the start of Stage 3, 16 teams were still standing at the Counter-Strike 2 tournament that began with 32 entrants, competing for their share of a $1.25 million prize pool with the grand final scheduled for June 21. The champion receives $500,000.

Stage 3 utilizes a Swiss System format and all matches are best-of-three. The top eight finishers will proceed to the playoffs next week.

Team Spirit rallied for its victory on Saturday, winning 16-13 on Mirage and 16-14 on Dust II after 9z Team opened the match with a 16-12 win on Overpass. Danil "donk" Kryshkovets of Russia led Spirit with 77 kills and a plus-28 kill-death differential in the triumph.

FURIA had less trouble winning their match against BetBoom Team to clinch a playoff spot, running off consecutive 13-6 wins on Overpass and Dust II. Latvia's Mareks "YEKINDAR" Galinskis led FURIA with 39 kills, and Brazilian Kaike "KSCERATO" Cerato had a team-best plus-17 K-D differential.

FUT Esports rallied to remain in contention, dropping the opener 13-10 on Dust II to B8 before rattling off a 13-9 Mirage win followed by a clinching 13-11 Ancient victory. Dmytro "dem0n" Myroshnychenko of Ukraine carried FUT with 58 kills and the only positive K-D differential (plus-10) on the squad.

Legacy swept PARIVISION behind a 16-12 win on Inferno and a 16-13 Dust II triumph. Bruno "latto" Rebelatto led the all-Brazilian Legacy team in kills (52) and a plus-20 K-D differential.

In Round 3 mid matches on Saturday where teams were neither eliminated nor advanced, Natus Vincere edged The MongolZ 2-1, Team Falcons beat Monte 2-1, Aurora Gaming swept G2 Esports 2-0 and Team Vitality outlasted MOUZ 2-1.

On Sunday, three Round 4 high matches will be contested for playoff spots while three Round 4 low matches will eliminate teams before three final Round 5 matches on Monday lock in the playoff field.

Sunday schedule

Round 4 high matches (advancement)

BetBoom Team vs. Team Vitality

Aurora Gaming vs. 9z Team

Natus Vincere vs. Team Falcons

Round 4 low matches (elimination)

MOUZ vs. FUT Esports

The MongolZ vs. Monte

G2 Esports vs. Legacy

Intel Extreme Masters Cologne Major prize pool

1. $500,000

2. $170,000