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GUIDES
Simple Radar
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Apparently making the Major isn’t important anymore
Liquid never fails to confuse us, because it seems they’re actively trying to NOT make the Major. NIP are also in the danger zone, while 3DMAX are surging towards it after a pretty strange change to their team.
So, it looks like we’re finally getting rid of BO1s at the Major.
No, wait - it’s just in Stage 3.
No, wait - it’s just in Stage 3 of the IEM Cologne Major 2026.
Better than nothing, right?
ESL has announced that all matches in Stage 3 of its summer Major will now be played as a best-of-three series, removing every BO1 in this phase of the competition.
We’re not sure if we missed something, but it’s still unclear whether this is a permanent format change or just a one-off. Either way, feel free to enlighten us.
On one hand, this is great news.
It’s the most decisive stage at the most important event of the year. Having BO1s never quite made sense. Single maps can be entertaining, but they rarely reflect a team’s true level. Especially not in MR12.
Also, as some of you might not know - because you actually have lives and better things to do - Major Playoffs seeding is based on Stage 3 placement. That means BO1 volatility can directly shape the bracket. And at the most prestigious stage in Counter-Strike, there should only be room for the very best.
On the other hand, there’s a slight bitter aftertaste to this announcement.
If you’re already removing BO1s from Stage 3, would it really be that much of a hassle to unify the format across all stages? More maps mean more event days and inevitably higher costs so… probably.
Still, when we’re talking about the biggest of leagues, wouldn’t that justify the investment? We don’t pretend to understand the full logistical complexity behind organising a Major, so we’ll leave the definitive answers to the Reddit experts.
Between the switch to a BO5 grand final at the StarLadder Budapest Major and now this adjustment, it does feel like Valve is actively refining the format. At least when it comes to this, we can’t say they haven’t listened to the community.
There’s a first time for everything.
Imagine making changes to fix your team, yet somehow you end up looking even worse.
Thats exactly what 3DMAX have done - they’ve benched bodyy for misutaa, swapped out YouKnow for wasiNk as head coach, and added NBK- as his assistant.
Where do we even begin?
Let’s go with misutaaa. The man somehow making a return to tier one in 2026.
Once regarded as a prodigious talent in the French scene, misutaaa never really made it work in tier one, and hasn’t exactly shone in tier two or three in the years since either.
We feel like 3DMAX should’ve got the memo when FUT didn’t bother keeping him around, but maybe that’s just us.
Maybe they just value being Fr-nch that much, though. Everyone has their vices, we guess.
As for the changes to the back room staff, we don’t see how this will help them either.
But that’s just the issue with this type of team. Unless, like The MongolZ or Aurora, you have the superstars to justify it, being a national team just doesn’t make sense.
FURIA realised it, Astralis realised it, and maybe 3DMAX would’ve too if they just read this week’s Deep Dive.
Yeah, okay. That plug was shameless.
Are you a fan of the Bad Friends podcast? Well, this is the good friends podcast. Or, to be more specific, the Jacks-good-friend-eva-elfie podcast.
Okay, we know the CCT joke is a bit overplayed now. And we know this event doesn’t look quite as bad as PGL Bucharest, but c’mon, we have to take the easy lay ups when we can.
Jokes aside, we actually think there’s plenty to look forward to with Stage 1 of EPL, and hilariously, one of the teams we’re most excited to see is Monte.
Monte looked like they had the foundations of being an actually impressive team during BLAST Bounty, so it will be nice to see them cutting their teeth against tier one again. Sure, their names might hold them back eventually. Players like afro are never going to be that good, but they have two Brits, so that means we have to stan.
They play Astralis in their opening match (who have also impressed us this year) in what actually could be a cracking game.
Another highlight will be Liquid vs Passion UA.
The first game of Senzu in a PUA shirt, we honestly have no idea how it’s going to go. Our hearts tells us he f-cks them, our brains tell us it’s a car crash.
But hey, you really couldn’t as for a better opener that Liquid.
There’ll also be plenty of intrigue around 3DMAX with misutaaa - who might finally give paiN a win - as well NRG vs HEROIC, with the Americans needing a win to keep up the faith after their Krakow showing.
Plus, they might be making their debut with Grim. So that’s also exciting.
Rounding out the games of note is NIP vs Legacy, where it feels like there’s a lot riding for both teams.
NIP badly need a win, with faith in them declining after a tough start to the year. As for Legacy, they’ve just brought in arT (who we will always adore), and they need to get the year back on track, too.
We have a feeling this one will be very one-sided; we just don’t know which way.
Also in the stage are G2 and PARIVISION, who get to open their accounts with free wins against Gaimin Gladiators and SemperFi, respectively.
Oh, and FUT, who should also be getting a free win against M80.
Sorry, M80, domestic wins just don’t get our hopes up when you’re dropping maps to the likes of junior, nosraC, and Infinite.
Did you know all invites for the IEM Cologne Major will be decided in just over a month? How’s your team doing?
If you’re a fan of NIP, Heroic, Liquid or BC.Game… we have some bad news. It looks like you won’t be cheering for your heroes at the Major. Even worse, they aren’t missing out because of some strong tier one side taking their place.
Instead, you’ll probably be cheering for Monte, Gentle Mates, or HOTU.
Embarrassing losses, poor results in tier one, or (in the case of Liquid) just not playing at all has left the door open for your new favourite players to play their way into the Major invites through tiny studio LANs. Among those rising stars are:
n0rb3r7… Bymas… dav1g…
shudders
But hey, at least DeathZz won’t be there.
We think.
Gentle Mates, HOTU, and Monte all took important victories in prestigious events such as IstanbuLAN, Roman Imperium Cup, and… Copenhagen Gaming Week Showdown (real catchy name, guys) in the past two weeks in order to get themselves into that golden top-seventeen range you need to book a ticket to Cologne. The only question now is if they can hang on to that spot.
Their closest competitors have tried their best to steal those spots, but are failing massively. NIP managed a very impactful loss to 100 Thieves just two games out from their debut, and HEROIC are drowning without a real AWPer on the team. BC.Game tried their best to win the Parken Challenger Championship this week, but took losses to ECSTATIC and orgless team illwill… twice.
Perhaps strangest of all is Liquid, who should be attending plenty of these small LANs to up their LAN win bucket with some seemingly free VRS points. And yet… they aren’t doing anything?
Guess we’re in for another Liquid management classic. But seriously, Liquid better sign up for some banana cup real quick if they want to be in Cologne, and perhaps more importantly, get that sweet sticker money.
No matter what, someone is going to be happy with this Major - either the vast majority of the community… or aizyesque.
🔧 Aaaaand it’s gone.
🤨 It’s just dumb
🔄 Roster moves
