Natus Vincere punched through another elimination round at the IEM Cologne Major 2026 on June 13, defeating The MongolZ in a best-of-3 series to move into the 2-1 pool of the Swiss stage. In a tournament with $1.25 million on the line, every series at this point carries real weight, and NAVI just bought themselves breathing room.

The Swiss system and why 2-1 matters

For those unfamiliar with how Majors work in CS2, the Swiss format is essentially a structured ladder. Teams don’t play in a traditional bracket. Instead, they’re matched against opponents with identical records each round. Win three before you lose three, and you advance. Lose three first, and you’re out.

Every match in Stage 3 is a best-of-3, which means there’s no room for fluky single-map upsets to decide a team’s fate. It rewards consistency and depth of preparation across the map pool.

At 2-1, NAVI sits in a comfortable but not secure position. They need one more win to advance. A loss would drop them to 2-2, still alive but suddenly facing a do-or-die scenario.

The MongolZ and the globalization of CS2

The MongolZ represent something bigger than just another team in the Swiss bracket. They are the standard-bearers for Mongolian esports on the global stage, and their presence at a Major in Cologne is a testament to how far the competitive CS2 ecosystem has expanded beyond its traditional European and CIS strongholds.

At 1-2, The MongolZ are now one loss away from elimination. Their next series is essentially a survival match, and the Swiss system is unforgiving to teams that stumble at the wrong moment.

NAVI’s Major pedigree and what comes next

NAVI, founded in 2009, has established itself as a powerhouse in esports, consistently excelling in various tournaments. The Ukrainian organization has built its reputation on performing when it matters most, and the Swiss format rewards exactly that kind of clutch DNA. Best-of-3 series favor teams with deep strategic playbooks and the ability to adapt mid-match.

The IEM Cologne Major 2026 continues with Stage 3 matches as teams fight through the Swiss bracket. NAVI needs one more win to advance. The MongolZ need two in a row to survive.