On August 7t, IEM Cologne 2024, one of the largest Counter-Strike 2 tournaments, will begin in Germany. The best teams in the world will compete for a prize pool of one million dollars and an incredible trophy. 

In this article, we will explain why the CS2 community loves IEM Cologne tournaments.

Rich History and Status

Just a few years ago, tournament operators aimed to expand the geography of their championships as much as possible, but this trend is changing. Events in specific cities are becoming regular, and IEM Cologne was one of the first such tournaments. This is why the competition in Cologne has a rich history and high status among professional players.

ESL has been holding its tournaments in Cologne regularly since 2014 — initially, it was ESL One Cologne, and since 2021, it has become IEM Cologne. Notably, three Majors have already been held in Cologne. With each Major, the championship gained more popularity among both professionals and Counter-Strike fans.

Everyone has long been accustomed to the fact that IEM Cologne, year after year, takes place in the same place at about the same time. Those wishing to attend find it much easier to plan their trip by booking tickets and hotels in advance. Gradually, IEM Cologne has become not just another tournament, but a special and memorable CS event.

A Real Trophy

An important factor that adds status to the event is the champion's cup. It truly looks like a trophy. It is not 3D-printed, as with recent Majors; it is heavy and huge. Despite the fact that IEM Cologne has not been a major in recent years, this trophy remains highly coveted among professional players.

“The Cathedral of Counter-Strike”

Cologne is not just a city but a historical landmark. The incredible Cologne Cathedral is the symbol and main attraction of the city. How does this relate to Counter-Strike? The point is that IEM Cologne is held at the Lanxess Arena, which is compared to the legendary cathedral.

ESL seized the opportunity and began promoting the idea that Cologne is the “Cathedral of Counter-Strike.” The Cologne Cathedral is mentioned in every tournament promo video. The iconic location of IEM Cologne adds additional status and prestige to the event.

Crazy Fans

What major championship can exist without fans? None. That’s why the fans in Cologne are simply insane. The most memorable event for German fans was the 2018 tournament when the local team BIG reached the final, where they lost to Natus Vincere. After the final, on stage, s1mple led a chant with the fans, singing the nickname of the opponent's sniper “smooya.”

Besides the local fans, die-hard supporters of other clubs come to Cologne. They bring drums, banners, flags, and flares—just like in major sports. The most important thing is that fans of different teams do not conflict with each other, which is very cool!

Incredible Highlights and Memorable Moments

Over the years of the tournament in Cologne, many things have happened. In 2014, Ninjas in Pyjamas won their first and so far only CS Major here. The Brazilian team SK Gaming became the first team in history to win two Valve events in a row here. In 2019, the championship in Cologne was the culmination of Team Liquid’s mini-era.

Moreover, the tournaments in Cologne have given us many incredible highlights. For example, olofmeister on Overpass defused the bomb in flames, earning a memorable graffiti.

Another graffiti in Cologne was earned by s1mple. He killed dennis with an AWP without a scope while jumping from "heaven" on Cache and then "no-scoped" KRIMZ at a distance.

IEM Cologne 2024 will take place from August 7 to 18. 24 teams will compete for a prize pool of one million dollars. The champion will also receive slots at IEM Katowice 2025 and BLAST Premier: World Final 2024. You can follow the schedule and results of the tournament via the link.