Natus Vincere defeated The MongolZ and advanced to the 2–1 bracket of Stage 3 at the IEM Cologne Major 2026.
The match started with a loss for Natus Vincere on Nuke, the Mongolian team's map pick, by a score of 8:13. The series then moved to Ancient, selected by NAVI. Despite losing the first half 4:8, the Born to Win squad mounted a comeback and managed to secure the map in overtime with a 16:13 victory.
The deciding map was Mirage, where Natus Vincere looked far more comfortable. They dominated the first half 9:3 and then confidently closed out the map 13:6 to seal the series.
As a result, NAVI now sit in the 2–1 bracket and will have two opportunities to qualify for the playoffs. Meanwhile, The MongolZ find themselves on the brink of elimination. To reach the final stage of the tournament, the Mongolian side must now win two consecutive matches.
The IEM Cologne Major 2026 is taking place from June 2 to June 21 in Cologne, Germany. The tournament features a prize pool of $1.25 million.
As a reminder, Fnatic CEO Sam Mathews recently confirmed that the organization has received acquisition offers, while denying any plans to dissolve the brand.