FaZe beat BIG at IEM Cologne 2025 Stage 1 Upper Bracket
FaZe opened their IEM Cologne 2025 campaign with a clean 2-0 win over BIG in the Stage 1 upper bracket. The international lineup closed out Inferno and Ancient without needing Dust2. Håvard "rain" Nygaard was named MVP with a 1.44 rating, while David "frozen" Čerňanský followed closely behind at 1.37. With the win, FaZe move on to face Team Liquid in the upper quarter-finals. BIG fall to the lower bracket and face elimination.
Map 1 – Inferno (13:7 FaZe)
BIG’s map pick started with promise, but FaZe took control with a strong 8:4 CT half. rain delivered early with a clean 4K hold on A site in Round 5, while frozen closed out the game with a 1v2 clutch. Krimbo put up resistance for BIG with a 1v2 post-plant win in Round 13, but his team couldn't convert the follow-ups.
Map 2 – Ancient (13:9 FaZe)
FaZe picked up a 9:3 lead on their T side, consistently breaking through mid control. BIG mounted a short comeback on defense, but FaZe closed the map with strong utility holds and decisive entries. frozen and broky combined for critical multi-kills, and karrigan delivered key mid-round calls to shut down BIG’s rotations.
FaZe advance to face Team Liquid in the upper bracket quarter-finals. BIG drop to the lower bracket and await the loser of an upcoming elimination match. Elsewhere in the bracket, 3DMAX, NiP, and Virtus.pro also secured opening wins.
#21
BIG
#13
paiN Gaming2.19Make a bet1.54IEM Cologne 2025 Play-in
#14
Astralis#9
FURIA1.66Make a bet2.08IEM Cologne 2025 Play-in
#26
FlyQuest
#11
Liquid2.7Make a bet1.41IEM Cologne 2025 Play-in
#10
Virtus.pro#15
Heroic1.78Make a bet1.94IEM Cologne 2025 Play-in
#17
3DMAX
#40
TYLOO2.06Make a bet1.76IEM Cologne 2025 is held in Cologne, Germany, with a $1,000,000 prize pool. Stage 1 runs from July 22–25, followed by Stage 2 from July 26–28. Playoffs start July 30. The top prize is $400,000, second place earns $180,000, and third place takes home $80,000.
Vitalii Diakiv writes gaming blogs and guides, focusing on the latest announcements and games matched with pop-cultural phenomena. Second, he covers esports events Counter-Strike 2, Marvel Rivals, League of Legends, and others.
20vitaliiD
FaZe beat Liquid on IEM Cologne 2025 Stage 1 Upper BracketFaZe secured a 2–1 win over Liquid in the IEM Cologne 2025 Stage 1 Upper Bracket, advancing to Stage 2. EliGE led the charge with a 1.39 rating over three maps.
21vitaliiDHeroic vs MIBR – IEM Cologne 2025 Stage 1 Lower BracketHeroic eliminate MIBR 2–0 at IEM Cologne 2025 Stage 1. yxngstxr and tN1R lead with dominant CT sides. Heroic advance to play Virtus.pro next. MIBR exit in 13–16th place.
21vitaliiDFlyQuest vs B8 – IEM Cologne 2025 Stage 1 Lower BracketFlyQuest eliminate B8 in a close 2–1 series at IEM Cologne 2025 Stage 1. regali leads with a 1.25 rating. FlyQuest advance to face Liquid in lower round 2, B8 are out of the tournament.
29vitaliiDNinjas in Pyjamas vs 3DMAX – IEM Cologne 2025 Stage 1 Upper BracketNinjas in Pyjamas defeat 3DMAX 2–0 in IEM Cologne 2025 upper quarters. xKacpersky top-frags with 1.41 rating. NiP qualify for Stage 2, 3DMAX fall to lower bracket to face TYLOO next.
28vitaliiDTYLOO vs Complexity – IEM Cologne 2025 Stage 1 Lower BracketTYLOO eliminate Complexity 2–1 in the IEM Cologne 2025 lower bracket. Moseyuh leads with a 1.26 rating. TYLOO advance to face 3DMAX, while Complexity exit in 13–16th place.
25vitaliiDGamerLegion vs Virtus.pro – IEM Cologne 2025 Stage 1 Upper BracketGamerLegion defeat Virtus.pro 2–0 at IEM Cologne 2025 Stage 1 upper quarters. PR leads with 1.52 rating. GamerLegion qualify for Stage 2, VP fall to lower bracket vs Heroic.
22vitaliiDFaZe beat Liquid on IEM Cologne 2025 Stage 1 Upper BracketFaZe secured a 2–1 win over Liquid in the IEM Cologne 2025 Stage 1 Upper Bracket, advancing to Stage 2. EliGE led the charge with a 1.39 rating over three maps.
21vitaliiDHeroic vs MIBR – IEM Cologne 2025 Stage 1 Lower BracketHeroic eliminate MIBR 2–0 at IEM Cologne 2025 Stage 1. yxngstxr and tN1R lead with dominant CT sides. Heroic advance to play Virtus.pro next. MIBR exit in 13–16th place.
21vitaliiDFlyQuest vs B8 – IEM Cologne 2025 Stage 1 Lower BracketFlyQuest eliminate B8 in a close 2–1 series at IEM Cologne 2025 Stage 1. regali leads with a 1.25 rating. FlyQuest advance to face Liquid in lower round 2, B8 are out of the tournament.
29vitaliiDNinjas in Pyjamas vs 3DMAX – IEM Cologne 2025 Stage 1 Upper BracketNinjas in Pyjamas defeat 3DMAX 2–0 in IEM Cologne 2025 upper quarters. xKacpersky top-frags with 1.41 rating. NiP qualify for Stage 2, 3DMAX fall to lower bracket to face TYLOO next.
28vitaliiDTYLOO vs Complexity – IEM Cologne 2025 Stage 1 Lower BracketTYLOO eliminate Complexity 2–1 in the IEM Cologne 2025 lower bracket. Moseyuh leads with a 1.26 rating. TYLOO advance to face 3DMAX, while Complexity exit in 13–16th place.
26vitaliiDGamerLegion vs Virtus.pro – IEM Cologne 2025 Stage 1 Upper BracketGamerLegion defeat Virtus.pro 2–0 at IEM Cologne 2025 Stage 1 upper quarters. PR leads with 1.52 rating. GamerLegion qualify for Stage 2, VP fall to lower bracket vs Heroic.
