The IEM Cologne Major is starting to heat up.

After a relatively uneventful Stage 1, the arrival of some of the big names in Stage 2 has gifted us a few bangers.

3-0

Of course, nobody banged harder than donk, as the overwhelming favourites Spirit made Stage 2 look like child’s play. He posted a 2.27 rating, the highest ever recorded in a single Major stage. Thank you, God, for allowing us to witness this f-ckery in our lifetime.

FUT’s Major rookies also made a statement in their debut, building on the strong form they’ve shown throughout the season to progress undefeated to Stage 3. Is a Playoff run too much to ask from coolio’s pupils? Because we’re getting a feeling they’re just getting started.

3-1 & 3-2

BetBoom and 9z also secured qualification with 3-1 records, while Legacy made it through at 3-2, with all three looking strong overall.

There are two things you can always count on when it comes to BetBoom: not having their full active roster available (at this point, we’re convinced no one knows what it actually looks like), and donk’s friend earning his nickname.

Just scraping by, with considerably less conviction than Legacy, were B8 and Monte - two teams that should probably be among your go-to picks for Stage 3’s 0-3. Still, massive respect to B8. The second-youngest team at the Major looked dead and buried after that 0-2 start, but managed to fight their way back with incredible resilience.

2-3 & 1-3

Unfortunately for the Americas, with both paiN and MIBR crashing out of Stage 2 in disappointing fashion, the region has lost a slot for the Singapore Major, dropping from eight teams to seven. Honestly, if this means we’re less likely to be subjected to the absolute crime against humanity that was Gaimin Gladiator’s CS, we’re all for it.

BIG seemed to have used up all their luck on that Mirage CT-side, leaving none left to push them over the Ukrainian s1mple in the close decider against B8.

While TYLOO surprised us by avoiding the 0-3, Astralis and M80 joined the Brazilians in the disappointments category.

We get it Astralis, it’s not easy running into such terrifying opposition as the mighty juggernauts of GamerLegion, TYLOO, and paiN.

0-3

GamerLegion’s shaky Stage 1 turned out to be a warning sign for what was to come, as the disappearances of Tauson, REZ, and hypex - none of whom managed to post a Stage rating above 0.99 - left them winless, alongside an ever-mediocre FlyQuest.