The most anticipated matchup of Round 1 in Stage 1 of the IEM Cologne Major 2026 delivered heavy tension between Team Liquid and BIG. As the German organization looks to cement a return to the highest tier of Counter-Strike, they faced a Team Liquid roster aiming to reclaim their former status as tournament giants. The two teams clashed on Nuke in a volatile best-of-one match. This initial Swiss stage has already produced several heavy upsets due to the unforgiving nature of a single map, standing in stark contrast to the series play waiting in Stage 3.
Late surge secures the victory for Team Liquid
The game remained tightly contested throughout the majority of the map. Neither side managed to build a definitive lead until the closing moments, with the hometown roster trading blows evenly with their North American opposition. Team Liquid eventually found their footing in the final stages, stringing together a sequence of critical rounds to break the deadlock. The North American team closed out the map 13-10, securing a strong start to their Major campaign while silencing the local crowd.
Player of the match
Keith ‘NAF’ Markovic anchored the server for Team Liquid and proved to be the ultimate difference maker. The Canadian finished the match with a 1.61 rating and an 18-14 K-D, pushing his team to the 1-0 bracket. BIG will now drop to the lower pool to fight for their tournament survival as the Swiss stage continues.
