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The IEM Cologne Major 2026 has taken the LANXESS Arena by storm, showcasing an unprecedented level of excitement. The playoffs have brought about intense matchups and surprising contenders, with Stage 3 surpassing the Budapest Major in various viewership metrics.
A notable change in the Cologne Major was the introduction of best-of-three series for all Stage 3 games, a first in Major history. This adjustment led to a substantial increase in airtime, totaling over 20 hours and resulting in an impressive surge of over 88% in watch time compared to the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Stage 3.
The heightened engagement with the audience also played a significant role in the increased viewership numbers, with the average concurrent viewership rising by 22.3%. Even before the playoffs began, the IEM Cologne Major had already secured its place as the sixth most-watched Counter-Strike event of all time.
Falcons and NAVI draw the largest audience in Stage 3
Peak Viewers during Stage 3 saw a growth of over 25% compared to Budapest 2025. The clash between Team Falcons and Natus Vincere was a standout moment, attracting the first million viewers of the day and being the only series in the tournament to do so.
The final map of the series provided a thrilling conclusion to the phase, with Falcons emerging victorious over NAVI and securing a spot in the playoffs.
Falcons’ matchup against G2 Esports also drew a significant audience, coming close to a million viewers. This marked the Falcons’ debut at the Major, with Finn “karrigan” Andersen leading the team as captain.
9z and BB Team make their mark
The conclusion of Stage 3 brought surprising outcomes, with NAVI, MOUZ, and The MongolZ being eliminated, while 9z and BB Team secured spots in the playoffs.
9z’s underdog journey to the playoffs was remarkable, culminating in a historic win over The MongolZ in the decider match. Their success led to a peak of 115,000 concurrent viewers on Spanish streams, a first for Spanish-language Counter-Strike. They are now set to face FURIA in the quarterfinals.
BB Team’s path to the playoffs was equally impressive, overcoming challenges to secure their spot against Aurora Gaming.
Top contenders clash in the playoffs
The playoff bracket features formidable title contenders, with G2 Esports facing Team Spirit, and Team Falcons going up against Team Vitality.
The top-heavy draw guarantees intense matchups early on, with favorites at risk of elimination before the finals. The other half of the bracket remains open, with FURIA, 9z, Aurora Gaming, and BB Team vying for a spot in the grand final.
As the competition moves to the renowned main stage at the LANXESS Arena, the quarterfinals and semifinals will maintain the best-of-three format, leading up to an exciting best-of-five grand final.