The 1-2 elimination pool at the IEM Cologne Major Stage 2 concluded with Legacy defeating M80 in a two-map series. The result keeps the Brazilian team in the tournament while ending the run for M80. The exit of M80 marks a historical low for their region, as no North American team will feature among the final 16 teams at a Counter-Strike Major for the first time in history.
Legacy entered the elimination series hoping to recover from a difficult start to Stage 2, having suffered consecutive losses to MIBR and Monte. M80 found themselves in the same bracket after securing a victory against B8 but falling to BetBoom and G2.
Early dominance on Dust2
The series began on Dust2, where Legacy quickly established control. The Brazilian squad dictated the pace on their offensive half, breaking through the North American defenses consistently to secure 10 T-rounds before halftime. This overwhelming start provided Legacy with the necessary buffer to close out the map comfortably, finalizing a 13-8 victory to take the series lead.
Overtime battle on Inferno
The match transitioned to Inferno, where the competition became significantly closer. Both rosters traded rounds evenly throughout regulation. A balanced 6-6 split in the first half was followed by another even 6-6 split in the second half, sending the map into overtime.
During the extra rounds, Legacy executed their setups with greater precision. The Brazilian team outmaneuvered M80 in the high-pressure situations to claim a 16-13 win. The result eliminates the final North American representative from the Major and moves Legacy forward in the competition.
