- GamerLegion is the most likely team to go 3-0 with +300 odds, but we’re also choosing a longshot in MIBR at +700 odds.
- Deciding which six teams will advance at 3-1 or 3-2 is the most important portion of the Pick’Ems, but we got three locks to move on to Stage 2.
- Take THUNDER dOWNUNDER (+185) and Gaimin Gladiators to finish 0-3 for the best chance to hit the correct pick quota.
COLOGNE, Germany – Matchups are set for the first stage of the IEM Cologne Major, as 16 teams will battle in a best-of-one format just a week from today. We’ve got you covered with the best Pick’Em guide for Stage 1 en route to that elusive diamond coin.
| Date (Time) | Format | Team 1 (odds to win) | Team 2 (odds to win) |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 2, 2026 (TBD) | Best-Of-One | B8 (-155) | TYLOO (+120) |
| June 2, 2026 (TBD) | Best-Of-One | BetBoom (-275) | Gaimin Gladiators (+200) |
| June 2, 2026 (TBD) | Best-Of-One | BIG (-135) | Liquid (+105) |
| June 2, 2026 (TBD) | Best-Of-One | GamerLegion (-230) | NRG (+175) |
| June 2, 2026 (TBD) | Best-Of-One | HEROIC (-205) | Sharks (+155) |
| June 2, 2026 (TBD) | Best-Of-One | M80 (-185) | Lynn Vision (+140) |
| June 2, 2026 (TBD) | Best-Of-One | MIBR (-275) | THUNDER Downunder (+200) |
| June 2, 2026 (TBD) | Best-Of-One | SINNERS (-155) | FlyQuest (+120) |
In order to complete the Pick’Em, players must choose two teams to go flawless with a 3-0 record, six teams to advance to Stage 2 with a 3-1 or 3-2 record, and two teams to be eliminated without a win at a 0-3 record. Pairing the eye test with legal sports betting odds makes for an easy formula to nail the minimum five correct pick requirement to advance in the Pick’Ems.
Flawless Runs (3-0)
- GamerLegion: GamerLegion are the highest ranked team in Stage 1 (11th) and have beaten much tougher competition than their opponents in this stage. They have the shortest odds to go 3-0 (+300) and start off as -200 favorites against NRG, but the key to GL’s success is Snax’s leadership and Rez’s consistency that allow their younger players to thrive.
- MIBR: This selection won’t be as popular, but what MIBR showed at the CAC Asia Championships caught my attention. They 2-0’d Parivision and crushed B8 in their two map victories behind incredible performances from Insani, including a record-setting 3.28 rating on Ancient.
Getting By (3-1, 3-2)
- BIG: The winners of four events this year also get the home crowd buff in Germany. They haven’t played an event in over a month, so BIG have had plenty of time to rest and strategize ahead of Stage 1 of the major.
- BetBoom: The Russian squad is only one of three teams (Falcons, Navi) that can say they’ve beaten Team Vitality this year. BetBoom kick off as -275 favorites against Gaimin Gladiators and should be a safe pick to advance at 3-1 or 3-2, but it’s more likely they go flawless than get eliminated.
- HEROIC: HEROIC have -205 odds to defeat Sharks and start 1-0 in Stage 1. From there, they’ll face plenty of familiar competition and should be confident enough to claim a spot in Stage 2.
- B8: The Ukrainian squad is oozing with skilled players, but they tend to struggle most when the lights are bright. That won’t be an issue in best-of-one matches against weaker competition, since this squad is used to beating top teams like FUT and The Mongolz in their last two events.
- TYLOO: Like the MIBR 3-0 pick, this is more of an eye test selection and not something that Esports betting odds agree with. TYLOO have +350 odds to advance, the fourth-longest, but they beat MOUZ (No. 7 in the world) in a best-of-one at the CS Asia Championships before taking a map off paiN as well.
- M80: I like M80 to serve as the North American representation over NRG, and CS sportsbooks agree (+110 vs +225 to advance). They start off as -185 favorites against Lynn Vision and have a stable enough team to earn three wins against Stage 1 competition.
Winless Eliminations (0-3)
- THUNDER dOWNUNDER: Unfortunately for the Australian squad, they just aren’t up to the level as other Stage 1 teams, and betting odds support that claim as the favorite to go 0-3 (+185). They rarely face competition outside of the Oceanic region, and when they do, they get handed losses from lower-tier Asian teams like Lynn Vision and The Huns.
- Gaimin Gladiators: This is another personal hunch bet on Counter-Strike like the Tyloo and MIBR gambles. Gaimin Gladiators have fer for the major, who admitted he can’t handle player life anymore and looked poor against non-major teams in Acend and Inner Circle.
