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June 22nd, 2026
5 min read

IEM Cologne Major 2026 Grand Final Recap: Falcons Sweep FURIA to Claim the Major Trophy

#CS2
#eSports
#news
Tonya Predko
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The last dance. The last battle. The last picks, lineups, and clutches. Today, without a doubt, we saw the absolute cinema! The IEM Cologne Major 2026 finally has its winners, along with a new peak viewership record and an MVP winner. But what exactly did we see? What are the results of the matches? Follow the material below to find the answers, highlights, and interesting moments. Be sure not to miss a single detail of the Grand Final together with us!

Teams Falcons vs FURIA

On June 21, 2026, we finally have a chance to see the last battle of the IEM Cologne Major 2026. The battle between two legends, karrigan and FalleN. And, of course, such an event couldn’t be ignored. In fact, the Grand Final set a new, the third, record of simultaneous viewership of the tournament in a row, with 2,750,036 peak viewers. As a result, the IEM Cologne became the most popular event in Counter-Strike history.

But let’s get back to the battle of Team Falcons and FURIA and their picks:

  • FURIA picked Mirage.
  • Falcons picked Anubis.
  • Furia picked Inferno.
  • Falcons picked Dust II.
  • Nuke is the decider.

Mirage

While Mirage was FURIA’s pick, Falcons took the initiative from the beginning. On the CT side, the karrigan’s team secured rounds round by round without delay. The Brazilian team tried to attack both Sites, but they didn’t have a chance against Falcons. In fact, they secured their first round when the score was already 8:0. Still, one attack on A Site changed the pace of the game, and FURIA took four rounds in a row.

There was hope of continuing this pace in the second half of the match. But, unfortunately for FURIA, Falcons continued to dominate even on the T-side. In the end, karrigan’s team won 13:8.

Let’s check the highlights from this map:

  • FURIA secured their first round.
  • FalleN makes a quad kill, defending B Site.

Anubis

The same performance took place at the beginning of the Falcon’s pick, Anubis. Moreover, m0NESY made a quad kill in the pistol round, forcing the Brazilian team to make the force buy round. At the same time, FalleN’s team could change the pace of the game after four consecutive losses and secure six rounds in a row.

In fact, while we saw some outmaneuvers from Falcons, now it was time to feel it from the other side. In the ninth round, FURIA ensured their opponents would defend A Site, but the Brazilian team planted a bomb on B Site. In addition, it was an eco round for Falcons, which led to another win for FalleN’s team.

Still, while the first half finished with a 5:7 score, Falcons saved a strategy for the T-side. In the thirteenth round, they made a quick rush of B Site. The next turn was a fast-rushing A Site in the two following rounds. FURIA eliminated all opponents in the fifteenth round, but there was no time to defuse. It creates a window for the Brazilian team and rewards them with another win round. But, unfortunately for their fans, Falcons didn’t give FURIA a chance to take another round. Similar to the previous match, Anubis ended with a 13:8 score.

But what about the eye-catching moments? Here are some of the best highlights:

  • Almost defusable, but not enough.
  • A triple from m0NESY.

Inferno

Inferno was FURIA’s last chance to end Falcon’s win streak. And they showed it in the first round by a successful attack on B Site. In the next round, the Brazilian team tried to rush B Site again, but then rotated to A Site. It was close to securing the second round in a row, but NiKo saved it, tying it at 1:1. After that moment, FURIA didn’t have a chance. A quad kill from kyousuke, a triple kill from karrigan with USP-S, and multiple force rounds for both teams. Still, the first half ended 8:4.

The T-side for Falcons started from another unsuccessful pistol round on this map. Well, in fact, while karrigan’s team was eliminated, there wasn’t enough time for their opponents to defuse. Still, this aim domination by FURIA allowed them to take three rounds in a row. Moreover, in the fifteenth round, FalleN fearlessly attacked Ramp with a MAC-10, earning a triple kill. The turning point was the nineteenth round.

First, Falcons were ready to attack B Site, but then rotated to A Site. There wasn’t any window for an action, so they turned back to B Site, which was a successful rotation with a bomb explosion. The attack on B Site in the next round brought the same result, creating a 12:8 score. The last attack was on A Site, which makes Falcons’ rushing unpredictable and, undoubtedly, successful. With the same 13:8 score, they won the IEM Cologne Major 2026.

Congratulations to Team Falcons!

Still, we shouldn’t ignore the highlights, right? You can check them below:

  • A triple from karrigan with USP-S.
  • A triple from NiKo.
  • A clutch from karrigan.
  • A triple from FalleN with a MAC-10.

Bonus:

  • The last seconds of the IEM Cologne Major 2026.

The curse is finally broken

Undoubtedly, this victory in the major was more than just a trophy. It was a goal NiKo had only dreamed about for over 10 years. In fact, he started his CS career even earlier, in 2011. Back in those days, Nikola Kovač was just a young man who didn’t know how his life would change. In 2017, he joined FaZe Clan, where he achieved one of his best results.

For example, at ESL One: New York 2017, NiKo dropped a 1.70 HLTV rating, a record that nobody could beat for years. It was also the place for his first major — ELEAGUE Major Boston 2018.

Along with karrigan, FaZe Clan finished only in second place. The highest possible place till now. The long 3,067 days since Boston’ 18 for both NiKo and karrigan. And, nonetheless, the long three attempts for the Danish veteran to take his CS2 major trophy. It’s hard to believe that four months ago, karrigan was on the verge of ending his career. Now, it looks like a bad dream. karrigan became the missing piece that made the Falcons worthy of victory.

What is it, as if not an example, that you should never give up on your dreams?

MVP of IEM Cologne Major 2026

m0NESY is the MVP of IEM Cologne Major 2026. The young talent wasn’t performing — he dominated from round to round, from map to map, from triple kills to clutches. But, of course, it’s better to show his stats:

  • Rating 3.0 — 1.25
  • ADR — 81.4
  • K/D — +108
  • KPR — 0.81
  • Round Swing — +3.04%

Conclusion

The IEM Cologne Major 2026 is over, but, of course, it’s not the end. We saw different teams with top performances and strategies, various movements and clutches, and a range of rounds and overtime. At the same time, there is only one winner, only one best team, and only one best IGL, who leads his teammates to victory. But, doesn’t it look like we are ready to see the Falcons’ era? Well, it’s clearly too early to talk about that just yet. And still, who knows what karrigan and his team would bring the next time, right?

Also, remember that you can not only cheer on your favorite team, but also win skins. Make predictions in CS2 Pick’em on Hellcase, compete against other users, earn points, and win breathtaking rewards alongside your heroes!

About the author Tonya Predko

Tonya Predko is an esports personality, influencer, and content creator best known for her work with NAVI. With a strong background in hosting, interviews, and gaming content, she brings an insider’s view of the esports scene to every story. On the Hellcase blog, Tonya shares her take on CS2 culture, skins, tournaments, and the moments that make gaming communities so exciting.