Esports match organiser ESL has introduced a big replace to its IEM Cologne Main 2026 format.
For the primary Counter-Strike Main of 2026, the third stage of the match will use best-of-three sequence for the primary time within the historical past of Valve’s first-person shooter title.
- ESL to host CS2 Main at IEM Cologne in 2026
- ZOWIE names CS2 participant apEX as newest associate
- ESL, ESIC and Esports Radar host International Esports Trade Week alongside IEM Cologne
ESL revealed that the change goals so as to add a higher aggressive ingredient to Stage 3, transferring away from best-of-one matches utilized in earlier Counter-Strike Majors. On account of the format change, the Stage 3 dates for the IEM Cologne Main will now happen throughout 5 days.
Along with an additional day of motion, ESL has additionally launched extra tickets throughout the whole lot of Stage 3, enabling extra followers to see the world’s finest Counter-Strike groups in motion. Tickets for matches going down on June eleventh will go on sale on February twenty sixth.
Whereas Stage 3 will use a best-of-three to determine which groups advance to the playoffs, the primary two phases will proceed utilizing a best-of-one format.
The enlargement of Stage 3 marks one other change to Counter-Strike’s Main format. In November 2025, match organiser StarLadder launched a best-of-five Grand Remaining, transferring away from a best-of-three to find out the occasion’s winner.
With an extra day of Stage 3 confirmed, the IEM Cologne Main schedule is as follows:
- Stage 1 – June 2nd to fifth
- Stage 2 – June sixth to ninth
- Stage 3 – June eleventh to fifteenth
- Playoffs – June 18th to twenty first
Greatest-Of-Three Changing into The Commonplace
Over the past 12 months, best-of-three group phases have grow to be the norm in a number of Tier 1 tournaments going down throughout the globe. PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 noticed 16 groups compete in a best-of-three group stage to determine the eight groups advancing to the playoffs.
ESL isn’t any stranger to utilizing three maps throughout its Professional Tour circuit. ESL Professional League Season 23 will characteristic best-of-threes throughout the 2 on-line phases and the vast majority of its playoffs.
The addition of an expanded Stage 3 format has the potential to lift the stakes and take away the customarily unpredictable nature of a best-of-one. Consequently, the world’s prime Counter-Strike groups should show themselves throughout extra maps safe a playoff place.
The put up IEM Cologne Main to incorporate best-of-three sequence in Stage 3 appeared first on Esports Insider.
