IEM Cologne stands as one of the final major Counter-Strike 2 tournaments before the Perfect World Shanghai Major, featuring top teams vying for the title in Germany.
The event, boasting a $1 million prize pool, will run throughout August and is being promoted as the “Cathedral of Counter-Strike” by ESL, which is highlighting iconic moments from past tournaments.
Elite teams such as Team Spirit, FaZe Clan, G2 Esports, and NAVI will participate shortly after competing in the Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia. These teams will face challengers emerging from the Play-ins for a chance to compete in the main event.
Streaming Information:
The matches can be watched live on the ESL Counter-Strike Twitch and YouTube channels, as well as through FACEIT Watch for a multiview experience. Popular CS2 streamers like ohnePixel will also be co-streaming the event.
Format & Bracket:
IEM Cologne 2024 introduces a revised format with no best-of-one matches; all games, including those in the Play-in stage, will be best-of-three series.
- Stage 1: The Play-in stage will feature 16 teams in a double-elimination bracket, competing for eight spots in Stage 2.
- Stage 2: This stage includes a double elimination group stage with two groups of eight teams, combining invited squads and teams from Stage 1.
- Playoff Stage: The top three teams from each group will compete in a single elimination bracket to determine the champion.
Match Schedule:
Stage 1 (August 7-9):
- Day 1: August 7
- Upper Bracket R1 matches: FlyQuest vs BIG, The MongolZ vs SAW, HEROIC vs MIBR, BetBoom vs 9z, Eternal Fire vs Falcons, paiN vs Liquid, FURIA vs Imperial.
- Day 2: August 8
- Upper Bracket R2 and Lower Bracket R1 matches.
- Day 3: August 9
- Lower Bracket R2 matches.
Stage 2 (August 10-13):
- Day 4: August 10
- Group B R1 matches: Virtus.pro vs TBD, FaZe vs TBD, Group A R1 matches: NAVI vs TBD, Astralis vs TBD.
- Day 5: August 11
- Group B R1 matches: MOUZ vs TBD, Vitality vs TBD.
- Day 6: August 12
- Group B Upper R2 and Group B Lower R1 matches.
- Day 7: August 13
- Group A Upper Final, Group A Lower Final, Group B Lower Final.
Playoffs (August 16-17):
- Day 8: August 16
- Quarterfinals.
- Day 9: August 17
- Semifinals.
- Day 10: August 18
- Grand Finals.
Teams and Players:
Teams in Stage 2 qualified through previous IEM events and high ESL World Rankings, while Stage 1 teams were invited based on ESL World Ranking and regional rankings. ALTERNATE aTTaX earned their spot through an open qualifier.
Stage 2 Teams:
ALTERNATE aTTaX: awzek, FreeZe, PerX, ArroW, hyped
Team Spirit: Chopper, magixx, zont1x, donk, sh1ro
FaZe Clan: rain, broky, karrigan, ropz, frozen
MOUZ: torzsi, xertioN, siuhy, Jimpphat, Brollan
G2 Esports: huNter-, NiKo, mONESY, malbsMd, Snax
Team Vitality: apEX, ZywOo, Spinx, flameZ, mezii
NAVI: b1t, Aleksib, jL, iM, w0nderful
Astralis: dev1ce, Staehr, stavn, jabbi, br0
Virtus.pro: Jame, FL1T, fame, n0rb3r7, electroNic
Heroic: TeSeS, sjuush, NertZ, kyxsan, degster
Eternal Fire: XANTARES, Calyx, MAJ3R, wicadia, woxic
Team Falcons: Snappi, Magisk, made, SunPayus, dupreeh
Complexity: JT, floppy, Grim, hallzerk, EliGE
9z Team: dgt, max, buda, HUASOPEEK, Martinez
The MongolZ: bLitz, Tenchno4K, 910, mzinho, Senzu
FlyQuest: INS, aliStair, Liazz, Vexite, dexter
Team Liquid: NAF, YEKINDAR, Twistzz, ultimate, jks
Imperial Esports: VINI, felps, noway, decent, try
FURIA Esports: yuurih, KSCERATO, FalleN, Chelo, skullz
BIG: tabseN, Krimbo, syrsoN, JDC, rigoN
BetBoom Team: nafany, KaiR0N-, s1ren, zorte, Magnojez
paiN Gaming: biguzera, lux, kauez, nqz, snow
MIBR: exit, brnz4n, insani, drop, saffee
SAW: MUTiRiS, rmn, ewjerkz, story, arrozdoce