Group Stage of IEM Cologne 2025 Concludes

<p>On July 29, the group stage of the prestigious CS2 tournament — IEM Cologne 2025 — came to an end. The final day of play proved decisive: the full playoff bracket is now set, and we also know which teams have ended their run early.</p><h2>Final Day Recap</h2><h3>Group A</h3><p>Team Vitality delivered a flawless performance, winning all their matches — confidently defeating Astralis, G2, and The MongolZ. Star clutcher&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/zywoo" target="_self">ZywOo</a>&nbsp;once again proved his worth, carrying the team and securing a direct spot in the semifinals.</p><p>The MongolZ, led by the aggressive plays of&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/blitz" target="_self">bLitz</a>, earned their playoff ticket after defeating Falcons in the upper bracket semifinal. For this squad, it’s one of the most significant achievements on LAN, and they’ll take the stage at LANXESS Arena with pride.</p><p>The final playoff slot from Group A went to FURIA Esports, who crushed G2 with a 2‑0 scoreline.&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/kscerato" target="_self">KSCERATO</a>&nbsp;shined in the series with precise aim and confident control, helping the Brazilians close out the match and eliminate G2.</p><h3>Group B</h3><p>In the upper bracket final, Team Spirit edged past MOUZ 2‑1, securing direct advancement to the playoffs’ semifinals.</p><p>The last slot from Group B was claimed by Natus Vincere, who dominated FaZe Clan 2‑0. The Ukrainian squad moves forward, while FaZe exit the tournament in the 9–12th place range.</p>

New CS2 Update: Targeted Fixes and Improvements After the Previous Patch

<p>This update aims to improve gameplay stability and eliminate specific issues that could impact both gameplay mechanics and visual elements.</p><h2>Gameplay Changes</h2><p>— Fixed a rare issue where weapons could fire prematurely when quickly switching after reloading.<br>— Resolved a bug where movement key changes were ignored at extremely high FPS during view angle adjustments.<br>— Air-strafing no longer grants higher-than-normal movement speed.<br>— Speculative fix for a rare bug where a dropped bomb could appear in an incorrect location on the map.</p><h3>General Fixes and Adjustments</h3><p>— Improved first-person animations and sound effects, including some glitch fixes.<br>— Nameplate and StatTrak display positions have been reviewed and corrected.<br>— Fixed material and rendering issues with the&nbsp;<a href="/en/skins/awp" target="_self">AWP in CS2</a>&nbsp;to restore visual clarity.<br>— Addressed an issue where held weapons appeared stuck to deployed weapons.<br>— CS2 music kits are now correctly restored — they were sometimes replaced with CS:GO kits.<br>— Voting results now correctly show your team’s outcome, not the opposing team’s.</p><h3>Map Changes</h3><p><a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-inferno" target="_self">Inferno</a><br>— Closed a gap in the first crate on bombsite B that allowed unfair visibility.</p><p><a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-overpass" target="_self">Overpass</a><br>— Fixed overlapping visuals on the staircase near the terrorist-side fountain.</p><p>This compact but crucial update focuses on enhancing in-game comfort and eliminating rare but annoying bugs. The developers continue refining CS2 to make every match feel smoother and more polished.</p>

CS2 Update: New Animations, Reworked Maps, and Improved Audio

<p>A major 2.8 GB patch has been released in CS2. The focus is on a new animation engine, gameplay improvements, and significant map changes.</p><h2>Animations</h2><p>CS2 is transitioning to the AnimGraph2 system. All first-person animations have been overhauled, including shooting, reloading, inspecting&nbsp;<a href="/en/skins" target="_self">CS2 skins</a>, and switching weapons. Chicken animations were also replaced.</p><h3>Gameplay</h3><p>Damage prediction while shooting on the move has been improved.</p><p><a href="/en/heavy" target="_self">CS2 shotguns</a>&nbsp;no longer automatically resume reloading after being interrupted.</p><p>Fixed bugs where players could get stuck on surf map geometry.</p><h3>Audio</h3><p>Fixed a bug affecting individual&nbsp;<a href="/en/players" target="_self">CS2 player</a>&nbsp;voice volume settings.</p><p>Reload and weapon handling sounds have been updated with the new animations.</p><p>Speed-based audio was added to surf maps (can be adjusted via console commands).</p><p>Improved environmental audio for community map creators.</p><h3>Other</h3><p>The community server browser now opens via the Steam Overlay even in fullscreen mode.</p><h2>Map Changes</h2><p><a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-overpass" target="_self">Overpass</a>:<br>Breakable glass added on B-site doors, Heaven fence updated, A-site geometry adjusted, wires restored, textures improved.</p><p><a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-train" target="_self">Train</a>:<br>New cover on A-site, reworked B-site layout, Ivy changes, updated lighting and clipping fixes.</p><p><a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-inferno" target="_self">Inferno</a>:<br>Church windows above Coffins opened, Church garden path changed, B-site and balcony props updated, curbs on Mid removed, visibility on Banana improved, environmental elements refreshed.</p><p>Valve continues to evolve CS2, bringing improvements that go beyond visuals and directly impact gameplay. From smoother shooting to clearer audio, the difference is noticeable.</p>

S1mple Officially Leaves NaVi — Rumors About Transfer to BC.Game

<p>Oleksandr "<a href="/en/players/s1mple" target="_self">s1mple</a>" Kostyliev, one of the most decorated players in CS:GO history, has officially left Natus Vincere. The organization announced this on their social media, noting they had received several offers which were forwarded to the player for consideration.</p><p>According to OFFSTAGE, s1mple may join the BC.Game CS2 lineup.</p><p>However, there has been no official confirmation from BC.Game or the player himself yet. Previously, s1mple also briefly played for FaZe Clan but did not stay on the roster.</p><p>Stay tuned for updates on where the legendary AWPer will continue his career.</p>

GamerLegion and Astralis eliminated from IEM Cologne 2025 at Stage 2

<p>Both teams reached Stage 2 after surviving the opening phase, but failed to carry that momentum forward.</p><h2>GamerLegion fall to 3DMAX in Dust2 marathon</h2><p>The series began with a dominant 13:6 win on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-overpass" target="_self">Overpass</a>. However,&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-inferno" target="_self">Inferno</a>&nbsp;slipped away 11:13. On&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-dust2" target="_self">Dust2</a>, the match extended to triple overtime — ending 22:20 in favor of 3DMAX. A critical 4v2 round loss shifted the game. Despite the loss,&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/rez" target="_self">REZ</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/pr" target="_self">PR</a>&nbsp;stood out throughout Stage 1.</p><h3>Astralis overwhelmed by FURIA</h3><p>Astralis had no answers for the Brazilians, losing 13:3 on Inferno and 13:4 on Dust2 — the same scoreline as in Stage 1. The Danes struggled in defense and couldn’t assert control. They leave Stage 2 winless.</p><h3>Teams that have already secured playoff spots</h3><p>Vitality and The MongolZ are through to the playoffs. Vitality defeated G2, while The MongolZ beat Falcons with&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/kyousuke" target="_self">kyousuke</a>. Both squads have shown consistent form and avoided major slip-ups in critical matches.</p><p>As the final group stage matches approach, the race for the remaining playoff spots intensifies.</p>

Sensational Results of Day 1 at Stage 3 of the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025

<h2>The first day of Stage 3 at the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 was marked by a series of shocking upsets.</h2><p>Legacy ended Vitality’s 30-match winning streak with a dominant 13-3 win on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-inferno" target="_self">Inferno</a>.&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/latto" target="_self">latto</a>&nbsp;stood out with 14 frags.</p><p>Virtus.pro continued to show solid form, defeating MOUZ 13-11 on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-mirage" target="_self">Mirage</a>&nbsp;and then sending the day’s heroes, Legacy, into the 1-1 pool.</p><p>Team Spirit crushed paiN 13-3 on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-dust2" target="_self">Dust2</a>, with&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/donk" target="_self">donk</a>&nbsp;delivering an outstanding performance — a 1.91 rating and 19 kills. They also comfortably beat Lynn Vision in their second match of the day.</p><p>3DMAX confidently took down G2 on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-nuke" target="_self">Nuke</a>&nbsp;(13-5), but fell to NAVI in the next game.</p><p>Aurora pulled off one of the biggest surprises of the day, defeating FaZe 13-5 on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-anubis" target="_self">Anubis</a>.&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/xantares" target="_self">XANTARES</a>&nbsp;got 17 frags, but it wasn’t enough in their second match against FURIA — they dropped to the 1-1 pool.</p><p>FURIA overcame The MongolZ in a tense 13-11 battle on Inferno.&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/molodoy" target="_self">molodoy</a>&nbsp;starred with 22 frags.</p><p>NAVI handled Nemiga 13-7 on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-train" target="_self">Train</a>.</p><p>Lynn Vision crushed Liquid on Dust2 with a confident 13-5 win.&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/westmelon" target="_self">Westmelon</a>&nbsp;posted 17 kills and a 1.50 rating.</p><p>This day shocked fans of many top-tier teams: Vitality, FaZe, G2, and Liquid all started with losses, while underdog squads delivered some of the tournament's most exciting performances.</p><p>Stage 3 has completely shaken up the standings — now the focus is on those who stumbled early. Can they make a comeback to reach the playoffs? We’ll find out soon!</p>

IEM Cologne 2025 — Stage 1 Day 1 Recap

<p>Day results:</p><p>FaZe 2:0 BIG — a successful return of&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/broky" target="_self">broky</a>, with&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/frozen" target="_self">frozen</a>&nbsp;as the hero of the match.</p><p>NIP 2:1 HEROIC — debut of&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/xkacpersky" target="_self">xKacpersky</a>&nbsp;and a standout performance from&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/r1nkle" target="_self">r1nkle</a>&nbsp;(1.31 rating).</p><p>Astralis 2:0 B8 —&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/jabbi" target="_self">jabbi</a>&nbsp;(1.58) dominated Mirage.</p><p>Virtus.pro 2:0 TYLOO — the team quickly capitalized on&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-overpass" target="_self">Overpass</a>’ return and took revenge on the Chinese squad after their loss at FISSURE Playground 1.</p><p>Liquid 2:0 paiN — ended their losing streak and will face FaZe.</p><p>FURIA 2:1 FlyQuest — a tough series, but&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/jks" target="_self">jks</a>’ debut was cut short.</p><p>3DMAX 2:0 MIBR, GamerLegion 2:0 Complexity — convincing wins for the Europeans.</p><p>Players to watch: jabbi (Astralis), r1nkle (NIP),&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/perfecto" target="_self">Perfecto</a>&nbsp;(VP),&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/lucky" target="_self">Lucky</a>&nbsp;(3DMAX).</p><p>Day 2: key matches for Stage 2 slots — FaZe vs Liquid, GamerLegion vs VP, 3DMAX vs NIP.</p>

Rare Atom make roster change: Trash benched, Tiger joins starting five

<p>Junbing “<a href="/en/players/tiger" target="_self">Tiger</a>” Zhen has joined the main roster.<br>Aojie “<a href="/en/players/trash" target="_self">Trash</a>” Tian has been moved to the bench.</p><p>Trash only joined the team at the end of June, replacing the veteran somebody, but Rare Atom has now decided to reshuffle the lineup again.</p><h2>Reason for the change</h2><p>Bringing in Tiger is an attempt to strengthen both firepower and team synergy. Rare Atom is still searching for the ideal roster to compete on the international stage.</p><h3>What’s next?</h3><p>Rare Atom is preparing for upcoming events, including BLAST Bounty and CPL Asia. This recent change may be a key step toward consistent results — especially with rising competition across Asia.</p>

FISSURE Playground 1 Playoffs Begin: TYLOO Eliminate 3DMax in a Shocking 2-0

<p>TYLOO confidently defeated 3DMax 2-0 to advance to the semifinals.</p><h2>Match overview:</h2><p>Ancient (13:9) — TYLOO took early control and dominated on the CT side.<br>Inferno (13:7) — The French squad tried to fight back, but TYLOO maintained control and closed out the series.</p><p><a href="/en/players/moseyuh" target="_self">Moseyuh</a>&nbsp;stood out for TYLOO, showcasing excellent map control and winning key duels. The team played aggressively and cohesively, executing clutches and gaining map space effectively.</p><h3>What’s next?</h3><p>TYLOO move on to the semifinals to continue their title run.<br>The next playoff matchup is Complexity vs. SAW, which will determine the next semifinalist.</p><p>The tournament has just begun, but it’s already clear — we’re in for an intense and unpredictable ride.</p>

SAW eliminate FURIA and reach FISSURE Playground 1 playoffs

<h2>Match summary</h2><p>Ancient: comeback and overtimes<br>FURIA started strong with a 7-2 lead, but SAW stabilized and saved five map points. In overtime, the Portuguese side took control.<br><a href="/en/players/story" target="_self">story</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/krazy" target="_self">krazy</a>&nbsp;both scored 30+ frags.</p><p>Train: KSCERATO domination<br>The second map,&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-train" target="_self">Train</a>, went to FURIA thanks to&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/kscerato" target="_self">KSCERATO</a>, who delivered a 2.11 rating and dominated both halves.</p><p>Inferno: FURIA's CT collapse<br>The decider started with a string of CT-side mistakes from the Brazilians — lost pistol, wasted advantages, and lack of structure. SAW capitalized and closed the series confidently.</p><h3>SAW — FURIA’s kryptonite</h3><p>That’s now three losses in a row for FURIA against SAW.<br><a href="/en/players/fallen" target="_self">FalleN</a>&nbsp;admitted: “We threw it away. They’ve got our number.</p>

Group Stage of IEM Cologne 2025 Concludes

Final Day Recap

Group A

Group B

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