IEM Cologne 2025 is right around the corner, and fans are buzzing about what’s to come. But it’s not just the teams we’re watching this time – some of the biggest stories are about the players themselves. This year’s event brings together seasoned legends and new prodigies, showing how wide the age range is in today’s CS2 scene. Let's take a look at the five oldest and five youngest players at this year’s event.

Oldest players

apEX – 32 years old (February 22, 1993)

Dan "apEX" Madesclaire is coming into his 11th Cologne, and he's on top. As the reigning champion and IGL of Vitality, he’s leading the tournament favorites. With seven playoff runs and one win last year, he has a real shot at doing it again.

FalleN – 34 years old (May 30, 1991)

Gabriel "FalleN" Toledo is a two-time Cologne champion (2016 and 2017) and a true CS legend. This is his 11th Cologne appearance. Now leading FURIA, he's aiming to help his squad push past the Play-In stage. Even getting to the main event would be a solid result for the team.

MAJ3R – 34 years old (January 25, 1991)

Engin "MAJ3R" Küpeli is back at Cologne for the third time. His best result was in 2017 with Space Soldiers. Now he plays for Aurora. But things don’t look good. Their star player İsmailсan "XANTARES" Dörtkardeş is missing. They also lost their best map, Anubis, due to the map pool change. A strong run at this event seems unlikely.

Snappi – 35 years old (June 9, 1990)

Marco "Snappi" Pfeiffer is the oldest player at the event. He’s no stranger to Cologne, with five appearances under his belt. His best run was a grand final with ENCE in 2023. Now he’s with NIP, and while they have potential, even reaching the main stage will take serious work.

karrigan – 35 years old (April 14, 1990)

Another veteran, Finn "karrigan" Andersen is playing in his 12th Cologne. With seven playoff appearances and a win in 2022, he's one of the most successful IGLs in CS history. FaZe is struggling right now and starting from Stage 1. This tournament is a chance to turn their season around.

Youngest players

snow – 18 years old (March 22, 2007)

João "snow" Vinicius had a strong showing at the last Cologne but missed the playoffs after a close loss to G2. Now, after reaching the Major semis with paiN, he's looking more confident than ever.

mzinho – 18 years old (June 28, 2007)

Ayush "mzinho" Batbold returns for his third Cologne and is now seen as a real threat. The MongolZ are playoff contenders, and this could be the year he sets a new personal best at the event.

PR – 17 years old (September 17, 2007)

This is Oldřich "PR" Nový’s first Cologne, but he’s had a solid year so far. GamerLegion has a good shot at reaching the main stage, and PR could play a key role in that run.

zweih – 17 years old (September 19, 2007)

Ivan "zweih" Gogin has played in a couple big events already, but this will be his first Cologne and his first time representing Team Spirit. Expectations are low for now, but fans are curious to see how he fits into the team.

kyousuke – 17 years old (January 30, 2008)

Maksim "kyousuke" Lukin is just 17 years old. He’s the youngest player at IEM Cologne 2025. This is his first big tournament. It’s also his debut match for Falcons. That means a lot of pressure. Fans and analysts are watching closely. This event is a huge test for kyousuke and Falcons. But it’s also a big chance to prove themselves.

IEM Cologne 2025 brings legends and rookies together. Some players want one more big win. Others are playing their first big event. This mix makes the tournament exciting. Will the veterans stay strong? Or will the new talents take over? We’ll see soon.