The IEM Cologne 2024 Group Stage is now underway, and we’ve already seen some large upsets that might change the course of this prestigious CS2 event. Spirit and G2 discover themselves getting ready to elimination already – learn on to seek out out all of the highlights from the day’s motion!
SAW & The MongolZ arrange G2 & Spirit for early elimination

Credit score: IEM on X.
Our IEM Cologne 2024 energy rankings had G2 and Spirit down as two of the massive favorites on this event. Now, each groups are going through elimination after solely someday of play. Worst of all, they play one another for his or her spot in Cologne, which means we’re positively shedding at the least one tomorrow. Holders G2 fell in a swift 2:0 towards SAW, whereas Spirit confronted the same state of affairs towards The MongolZ.
Reality be informed, neither staff deserved any greater than they acquired. G2 noticed malbsMd’s first struggling efficiency for the staff, whereas Spirit seemed mortal at any time when donk was struggling to seek out influence. It’s a rising concern that Spirit can’t appear to seek out methods to win at any time when donk is having a tough sequence, with zont1x having a very tough day of it at IEM Cologne 2024.
FaZe Clan halt decline towards Group Liquid

Credit score: IEM on X.
It was a a lot better day on the workplace for FaZe Clan, as they put a halt to their present droop towards a beforehand unbeaten Group Liquid roster. Admittedly, karrigan vs Twistzz in an IGL battle was all the time going to be an enchanting storyline, however plainly the scholar isn’t but able to usurp the grasp. 2:0 was the rating, however you’re hardly going to listen to Liquid increase the alarm bells after this shut sequence.
FaZe Clan have been boosted by a robust efficiency from ropz and rain, whereas final continued to indicate his outstanding adaptation to Tier 1 on the facet of Group Liquid. If FaZe are to have a strong run at IEM Cologne 2024, they should hold ropz activated. His personal struggles on the server are effectively documented in the meanwhile, so this primary outing is hopefully an indication of higher issues to come back.
Astralis & NAVI get the job completed

Credit score: IEM on X.
Upsets? Astralis and NAVI have by no means heard of them. Each have been favored of their clashes towards 9z Group and paiN Gaming respectively, they usually delivered with straight 2:0 wins throughout the board. Frankly, neither sequence was notably aggressive, exhibiting G2 and Spirit the way it’s speculated to be completed towards worse groups on paper.
Astralis might be happy to see such a robust efficiency from Staehr and jabbi, successful the day even with out stavn performing. It’s exhausting to reward only one particular person from NAVI – every participant was sturdy in that sequence, and it was so dominant that there wasn’t time for anybody to really rack up a excessive kill depend. Now, these two groups will face each other for a Playoffs spot, whereas the loser will go on to face the winner of G2 vs. Spirit. Discuss a tough draw.
Listed here are the entire outcomes from the six matches from right now’s IEM Cologne 2024 Group Stage motion:
FaZe Clan 2:0 Group Liquid
Complexity 2:1 Virtus.professional
SAW 2:0 G2
Astralis 2:0 9z Group
The MongolZ 2:0 Spirit
NAVI 2:0 paiN Gaming