The sacred halls of the LANXESS Arena are going to once again be filled with the chants of Counter-Strike fans, as IEM Cologne 2025 reaches its Playoff stage. The two Quarter-Finals feature two promising games, as MOUZ take on FURIA while NAVI go up against The MongolZ. Awaiting them will be Vitality and Spirit in the Semi-Finals.
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Wondering which side holds the upper hand? Curious about which maps will likely define the outcome? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here’s everything you need to know before the stage lights up and the first shots ring out in the IEM Cologne Playoffs.
The first Quarter-Final ushers in a captivating matchup, as MOUZ prepare to contend with a resurgent FURIA. MOUZ have been inexorable in their playoff pursuits, their momentum interrupted only by the indomitable Vitality. FURIA, by contrast, are riding a resurgence, with their latest additions fitting well within the system. These two lineups have crossed paths several times before, and except for IEM Rio, MOUZ have traditionally emerged as the winners. They step into the Quarter-Final too as the presumed front-runners.
Yet this time, FURIA exude a menace unseen in their previous head-to-head. They are perhaps at the apex of their form that they have shown for a while, currently ranked as the third-highest performing team in the tournament. Both molodoy and KSCERATO have been imperious, leading the charts for FURIA with a 1.19 rating. All but FalleN are rated above the 1.10 threshold. YEKINDAR distinguishes himself on the T-side with a 35% attempt rate in openings and 50% duel success. He has been solely handling the opening department, and is the only positive-rated entry fragger across his engagements.
On the MOUZ side, it’s been xertioN and torzsi bearing the mantle. Though Spinx has thus far remained somewhat uncharacteristically subdued compared to his usual form, he’s the kind of player who awakens under duress. It wouldn’t be surprising if he steps up in the Playoffs.
Coming to the maps we might witness in the series. Dust2 has been FURIA’s favoured territory at Cologne. Curiously, in their history with MOUZ, FURIA have only clashed on Dust2 once, at IEM Rio, a match that ended in a humbling 13-5 win for them. Though MOUZ have not banned the map outright, FURIA have still rarely picked it, even after their dominant pick. Whether Dust2 returns to the fold this time or not, remains a question.
Both sides try to steer clear of Overpass and Ancient, which pares down the map pool to a narrow corridor. Should MOUZ maneuver Nuke into the rotation, the balance may tilt in their favor, a scenario FURIA will likely try to avoid. But having seen MOUZ dabble with Ancient against Spirit, FURIA will have to use their perma-ban there. If MOUZ excises Overpass, the remaining maps could include a decider from either Inferno, Mirage, or Train.
The second Quarter-Final offers a different kind of intrigue, as two system-bound rosters lock horns. Here, The MongolZ, who once again have proved their consistency time and time again are pitted against a NAVI side still trying to exorcise the ghosts of their former selves. They have been stellar this tournament, taking down G2 and FaZe, the latter on two occasions.
Much of the pre-tournament discourse revolved around makazze, the latest addition to NAVI’s ensemble. Yet it is iM who has seized the narrative, showing an outstanding fit of form. With a 1.32 rating at Cologne, he has well and truly been a difference maker for the team. b1t follows next with 1.18, while w0nderful comes in at third, boasting a 1.14. On the opposing front, The MongolZ find themselves once again pulled by the gallantry of Senzu, with 910 standing tall next to him.
Moving on to the head-to-heads between these two teams since the Shanghai Major, both teams have five wins a piece. While The MongolZ edged NAVI in tense affairs at PGL Astana and ESL Pro League, NAVI exacted retribution at IEM Katowice and BLAST Open Lisbon. This series at IEM Cologne is going to serve as a crucible for one of the two teams to find an early lead going into the second half of the season.
In terms of maps played between the two teams, their tendencies are well-documented. NAVI have gravitated toward Mirage, while The MongolZ have always placed their faith in Ancient. If NAVI ban Ancient, expect The MongolZ to use Inferno as the punish pick. The decider, more often than not, has been Dust2. These maps may stay the same, unless NAVI decides to switch things up. I still believe NAVI are the favourites, but it will once again come down to how much weight iM can pull in the series.
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