IEM Cologne 2025 starts on July 23, and it's one of the biggest CS2 tournaments of the year. It will be the first big LAN of the second half of the 2025 season. With top teams, new rosters, and format changes, there are many interesting storylines to follow. Let’s break down the five biggest ones to watch.
Format overview
Stage 1: July 23–25
- 16 teams
- Double elimination bracket
- All matches are best-of-three (Bo3)
- Top 8 move to Group Stage
Stage 2: July 26–30
- 2 groups of 8 teams each
- GSL double elimination format
- All matches are Bo3
- Top 3 from each group move to Playoffs: 1st place goes to Semifinals. 2nd&3rd to Quarterfinals
Playoffs: August 1–3
- Single elimination bracket
- Quarterfinals & Semifinals: Bo3
- Grand Final: Bo5
Prize Pool: $1,250,000
- Players: $1,000,000
- Clubs: $250,000
Opening matches
Odds are provided by Stake and are up to date at the time of publication.
B8 – Young talent, big dreams
B8 is one of the most exciting underdog stories. After a great showing at the BLAST Austin Major, they earned respect in the scene. Now, they face a huge test at Cologne. This is their shot to stay in the top-20 global rankings.
Their roster is young but talented. Their individual aim is solid, but can they handle the pressure of playing strong teams back-to-back? That’s the real question.
Their first match is against Astralis, a team they beat in the Major qualifiers. Astralis now has Rasmus "HooXi" Nielsen and made the playoffs at FISSURE Playground 1, so they’re stronger. But B8 could surprise again. If they win, they play the winner of FURIA vs FlyQuest. Both are beatable for B8. Their best maps are Mirage, Inferno, and Ancient. Losing Anubis will hurt, but they still have tools to succeed.
FaZe – The broky comeback
FaZe starts against BIG, one of the weakest teams in the field. Then they face the winner of paiN vs Liquid. Both teams have their own problems. PaiN crashed out early from FISSURE. Liquid is still unstable. So the bracket is favorable. If FaZe fails to make the Group Stage, roster changes may come soon.
NIP – From zero to Cologne
NIP had no invites at the start of 2025. They qualified for everything, climbed the Valve rankings, and made playoffs at PGL Astana. That earned them a direct invite to Cologne.
With Kacper "xKacpersky" Gabara joining the roster, and Rasmus "sjuush" Beck and Artem “r1nkle” Moroz already playing well, NIP has the firepower to fight. They just need to stay calm and focused.
G2, Spirit, NAVI, Falcons – Can new rosters deliver?
These teams need to prove they can adapt and still perform. They’re under pressure to deliver, and Cologne is their first test.
Vitality – Can anyone stop them?
Vitality won almost everything last year, including the Major and ESL Grand Slam. They enter Cologne as the clear favorites. They have a 34-series win streak in Bo3 and Bo5.
Can anyone stop them? MOUZ and The MongolZ have strong cores and stayed together. Spirit, NAVI, and Falcons are trying to catch up. But right now, Vitality looks like the best CS2 team ever. The big question of the event: Will they keep dominating, or finally stumble?
Bonus: New map pool
Cologne 2025 will be the first top-tier event with the new map pool. Overpass is back, Anubis is out. This hurts teams like Aurora and HEROIC, and might help teams like Astralis, NAVI, and GamerLegion. It adds more mystery to the event. Some teams may rise or fall just based on how well they adjust to the changes. That makes the tournament even more exciting.
IEM Cologne 2025 is set to be one of the most exciting events of the year. With new rosters, the return of Overpass, and huge questions around teams like G2, FaZe, and Vitality, fans are in for a thrilling show. Don’t miss it!
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