The Players editorial team has prepared a digest of the key news stories from June 20, 2026.
FURIA Become the First Finalists of IEM Cologne Major 2026
- FURIA defeated Aurora in the semifinals of the IEM Cologne Major 2026 in CS2 and became the first finalists of the tournament. The match ended with a 2-0 scoreline (13:9 on Dust2 and 13:4 on Nuke).
Falcons Become the Second Finalists of IEM Cologne Major 2026
- Falcons overcame Spirit in the semifinals of the IEM Cologne Major 2026 in CS2 and advanced to the tournament's grand final.
IEM Cologne Major 2026 Semifinal Becomes the Second Most-Watched Match in Counter-Strike History
- The IEM Cologne Major 2026 semifinal between Spirit and Falcons peaked at 2,216,902 viewers. According to Esports Charts, this makes it the second most-watched match in Counter-Strike history.
Ukrainian Games Festival 2026 to Take Place on Steam — Dates and New Event Formats Announced
- The fifth Ukrainian Games Festival will take place on Steam from August 17 to August 24, 2026. The annual event dedicated to Ukrainian games will once again showcase new projects, trailers, demos, and special offers to players.
Ubisoft Co-Founder Claude Guillemot Dies in Plane Crash in France
- On Friday afternoon, June 19, a private recreational aircraft crashed in the French commune of La Baule. Two people were killed in the accident, one of whom was Claude Guillemot, co-founder of the renowned gaming company Ubisoft.