Team Falcons continues to confirm its status as one of the main contenders for a high ranking at IEM Cologne 2026, one of the most prestigious Counter-Strike 2 tournaments in the world.
After several rounds played in the third stage of the competition, the team led by the star tandem of Nikola “NiKo” Kovač and Ilja “m0NESY” Osipov showed an enviable level of play and remained in the race for placement in the finals of the tournament.
The Falcons opened the competition with an impressive 2:1 win against G2 Esports. In one of the most interesting matches of the first round, after the defeat on Inferno, the team managed to turn the series around with victories on the Dust2 and Ancient maps.
NiKo stood out in particular, who finished the duel with an excellent individual performance and was declared the best player of the match.
The loss did not deter the Falcons
However, the very next day, the Falcons experienced an unexpected defeat against the BetBoom Team with a score of 0:2, thereby missing the opportunity to get closer to a direct placement in the playoffs. Despite this, the team did not let this failure disturb them.
The answer came in the third round, when the Falcons defeated Monte with a score of 2:1 and returned to a positive score in the tournament. This victory brought them the effect of two wins and one loss, which left them in a very good position before the final matches of the Swiss stage.
The performance so far has shown that the Falcons have the quality needed to fight against the best teams in the world.
NiKo continues to play at the highest level, while m0NESY confirms his reputation as one of the most talented players today.
Experienced karrigan, TeSeS and young kyousuke also play an important role, giving the team a combination of experience and individual talent rarely seen on the professional scene.
The match against NAVI is crucial
The Falcons now face a crucial duel against Natus Vincere, which could significantly affect their path to the playoffs.
If they continue with the games they showed against G2 and Monte, the Saudi organization has a real chance to be among the top eight teams of the tournament and continue their quest for the title in the “Cathedral of Counter-Strike” in Cologne.
“IEM Cologne Major 2026” is held from June 2 to 21 in Germany, with a prize pool of 1.25 million dollars and the participation of 32 of the best teams in the world.
