The IEM Cologne Major 2026, Counter-Strike 2’s fifth Major Championship, kicks off June 2 with a $1.25M prize pool, 32 teams, and something conspicuously missing: any trace of cryptocurrency money.

The tournament itself

The Major runs through June 21 in Cologne, Germany, with playoffs taking place at the LANXESS Arena. Esports fans know the venue as the “Cathedral of Counter-Strike,” though this marks its first time hosting a CS2 Major specifically.

Three players are leading the MVP conversation, and all of them are chasing something they’ve never had: a Major MVP award.

Team Spirit’s donk sits at the top with a tournament rating of 1.53. That’s an absurd number for context. A 1.0 rating means you’re…