Liquid and Astralis survive as IEM Cologne 2025 Play-Ins conclude

It was time to say goodbye to another five teams today as the IEM Cologne 2025 Play-Ins came to an end. While the Cathedral of Counter-Strike is still another stage away, in the here and now, there was still the small matter of the final Group Stage teams to settle today.

So, of the teams left to fight, who made it through at the final hurdle? And who was sent packing their bags early without any hope of seeing the LANXESS Arena? Find out as we recap the last day of the IEM Cologne 2025 Play-Ins.

Liquid survive to see IEM Cologne 2025 Groups

Coming into the final day of the IEM Cologne 2025 Play-In, Liquid had just one opportunity to secure their place in the next stage. Their opponent: FlyQuest, with jks now leading the line. A reunion with their former player certainly came a little earlier than they may have expected, but they relished the matchup all the same.

In truth, this series got a little too close for comfort for Liquid. The two teams were able to snatch away each other’s map picks, before Liquid finally found some solid footing in the map three decider. After a stellar start, Twistzz fell off the deeper this series went, and it was time for his teammates NAF and NertZ to really step up when it mattered most. It wasn’t quite the convincing win Liquid may have been hoping for, but all that matters is that they put their name in the hat for tomorrow’s Group Stage.

Astralis cling on in unconvincing fashion

Astralis are through, but the Danes certainly won’t see this as a good day at the office. Job done? Sure, but it couldn’t have been any closer as they were dragged to the brink by Austin Major Semi-Finalists paiN Gaming. All three maps were needed in this one, with the decider going all 24 rounds as Astralis edged out the contest. After their FISSURE Playground 1 Grand Final run, the fatigue seemed to be taking its toll on Astralis, and it certainly looked at one point that they were set to be sent packing from IEM Cologne 2025 very early.

This was a rare glimpse of the winning potential of Astralis when both stavn and jabbi have a good day at the office. The pair had 111 kills between them, top-fragging even as Astralis’ stars elsewhere struggled. They’ve avoided embarrassment, but they’ll want even more than that to make a success of IEM Cologne 2025.

All IEM Cologne 2025 Play-In day three results explained

Those are the two big storylines out of the way, but they aren’t the only matches worth talking about. FURIA kicked off their day with a win against Astralis (forcing the Danes to play that later match versus paiN Gaming). For FURIA, it’s another exciting step in the right direction after going international. We’ll temper expectations for now, but there’s no doubt this was a really good win at IEM Cologne 2025.

HEROIC also got a much-needed Group Stage spot at IEM Cologne, beating Virtus.pro 2:0 in another damning indictment of the latter’s current project. It hasn’t been smooth sailing for the new HEROIC so far, but you wouldn’t know it based on proceedings here. It was a sad watch, and it’s hard to see how much longer they can really stick with electroNic as IGL.

Finally, there was 3DMAX vs. TYLOO. TYLOO have been the talk of the town lately following their FISSURE Playground 1 win, but it was the Frenchmen who had the last laugh here by soaring in a 2:0 series. This really should’ve gone to a decider, but TYLOO throwing away multiple match points on map one leading to a triple Overtime loss meant their fate was secured in two.