Three advancement matches happen on the second day of this CS2 esports event. Some great teams are in the matchups, and they face each other in fierce battles.
The initial Play-In Stage of the Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) esports event Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025 (IEM Cologne 2025) is filled with exciting matches. No team wants to take the long route and play the maximum number of games. Everyone is aiming for two quick wins and a fast qualification to the Group Stage by Day 2.
For six teams, such a scenario is possible, but it can become real only for three of them. These CS2 esports teams won their opening matches, and the IEM Cologne 2025 Play-In brackets treat us to some excellent matchups on Day 2.
Where to watch Day 2 advancement matches at IEM Cologne 2025 Play-In: Stream
The official channel of ESL Counter-Strike had two parallel streams to broadcast all the matches from Day 2 at IEM Cologne 2025 Play-In. You can re-watch the main stream right here, as it’s embedded below.
Results: Who advances to the IEM Cologne 2025 Group Stage?
Check out a brief summary of these advancement matches here.
GamerLegion 2-0 Virtus.pro — GamerLegion win the match
Map | Score | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| 1, Dust II, Virtus.pro pick | GamerLegion 13-8 Virtus.pro | GamerLegion |
| 2, Ancient, GamerLegion pick | GamerLegion 13-11 Virtus.pro | GamerLegion |
| 3, Mirage, decider | - | - |
GamerLegion finished IEM in Melbourne and Dallas within the top 8. Their first opponents in Cologne were Complexity, and GamersLegion won 2-0.
Virtus.pro have had a pretty difficult period. They got eliminated from IEM Melbourne 2025 by FlyQuest with the placement 13th–16th. At the Austin Major, Virtus.pro couldn’t make it from Stage 3. In Cologne, they already have one victory against TYLOO with a score of 2-0.
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3DMAX 0-2 Ninjas in Pyjamas — NiP win the match
Map | Score | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| 1, Nuke, NiP pick | 3DMAX 8-13 Ninjas in Pyjamas | Ninjas in Pyjamas |
| 2, Dust II, 3DMAX pick | 3DMAX 7-13 Ninjas in Pyjamas | Ninjas in Pyjamas |
| 3, Overpass, decider | - | - |
It’s the first year that we see the regular presence of 3DMAX at the top-tier CS2 esports tournaments. Their results still could be better, but having 9th–12th at IEM Dallas 2025 and 12th–14th at BLAST Austin Major 2025 feels to be decent for this team. 3DMAX defeated HEROIC in their opening match at IEM Cologne 2025 with a score of 2-1.
Ninjas in Pyjamas have been mainly playing in B-tier tournaments nowadays. They still were 5th–8th at PGL Astana 2025, but with a very limited presence of top CS2 teams. For this match, CS2 betting odds at IEM Cologne 2025 generally favored 3DMAX, but esports is always unpredictable.
FaZe Clan 2-1 Team Liquid — FaZe Clan win this match at IEM Cologne 2025
Map | Score | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| 1, Mirage, TL pick | FaZe Clan 13-6 Team Liquid | FaZe |
| 2, Inferno, FaZe pick | FaZe Clan 10-13 Team Liquid | Team Liquid |
| 3, Nuke, decider | FaZe Clan 13-2 Team Liquid | FaZe |
FaZe Clan had s1mple during the latest two CS2 esports events: IEM Dallas and BLAST Austin Major 2025. FaZe tried to solve their unstable performance. Finishing in the top 8 in Austin feels alright in general, but not enough for such a team. At IEM Cologne, FaZe had broky back, and they already defeated BIG 2-0 in the opening match.
Team Liquid players know for sure what an unstable performance means. Reaching the top 8 at the top CS2 events is a big deal for them in 2025. The team achieved that at IEM Melbourne 2025 and ESL Pro League Season 21. They won an opening match versus paiN Gaming 2-0, which may be a good sign for the fans.
The Group Stage at IEM Cologne 2025 starts on July 26. On-stage playoff matches happen from Aug. 1 to Aug. 3.
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