One Fun Fact About Every Player in the IEM Cologne Major 2026 Playoffs

The IEM Cologne Major 2026 playoffs are packed with elite talent, rising stars, and legendary veterans. Fans know these players for their incredible performances on the server, but many of them have surprising stories away from the game.

Here is one interesting fact about every player still fighting for the trophy in Cologne.

Team Spirit, Vitality, FURIA, Falcons, G2 Esports, BetBoom Team, Aurora, 9z Team, Final Thoughts

Team Spirit

sh1ro

Long before becoming one of the world's best AWPers, sh1ro ran a Minecraft YouTube channel. His audience was tiny though, with only two subscribers.

tN1R

His path to professional Counter-Strike was not always supported at home. During one argument, his mother even smashed his monitor.

zont1x

One of the quietest players in professional CS, zont1x has posted only 66 words across all of his social media accounts combined.

donk

Vitality attempted to sign donk in 2023. The Russian superstar declined the offer because he believed Team Spirit was the best place for his development.

magixx

Success in school came just as naturally as success in Counter-Strike. Magixx graduated from high school with honors.

Vitality

mezii

Counter-Strike runs in the family. His father played local CS: Source LAN tournaments in the UK and often brought young mezii along.

apEX

Just before joining Vitality, apEX lost his grandmother. Her stories about surviving World War II shaped much of his mentality and perspective on life.

flameZ

After winning a Major, a photo of flameZ holding the trophy appeared on one of the world's most famous screens in New York's Times Square.

ZywOo

Perhaps the most fitting coincidence in Counter-Strike history, ZywOo was born on the same day the original Counter-Strike was released.

ropz

The Estonian star is a devoted cat owner. He even built a dedicated gaming space at home for his cat, Lucky.

FURIA

yuurih

His name was inspired by Yuri Gagarin, the first human to travel into space.

KSCERATO

In 2026, KSCERATO launched a YouTube channel of his own and quickly became an active content creator.

YEKINDAR

His favorite comfort food is a traditional Latvian dish consisting of herring and cottage cheese.

molodoy

His parents did not allow him to play video games. Fortunately, a local internet cafe owner named Adil believed in him and let him play for free.

FalleN

Few players can match this achievement. FalleN has won trophies in Counter-Strike 1.6, Counter-Strike: Source, CS:GO, and CS2.

Falcons

m0NESY

His rise through the ranks was extraordinary. He reached Global Elite at 10, FACEIT Level 10 at 12, NAVI Junior at 14, and a top-tier professional team at just 16 years old.

kyousuke

The highly rated Russian prospect started smoking when he was only 14.

NiKo

When MOUZ first approached him, NiKo said no. He wanted to help a Serbian team succeed and did not even tell his parents about the offer because he knew they would push him to accept.

TeSeS

After difficult losses, TeSeS prefers a simple recovery method: having a beer and disconnecting from the game for a while.

karrigan

Away from esports, karrigan has an impressive academic background. He earned a master's degree in Business Administration and Auditing from Copenhagen Business School.

G2 Esports

huNter-

Winning BLAST World Final 2024 was memorable enough, but the following day became even more special when his daughter was born.

HeavyGod

His first match at a major international event ended in disaster. Vitality defeated his team 13-0 at BLAST Spring 2024.

NertZ

He has a very specific superstition. His mouse must always be connected to the USB port closest to the floor.

MATYS

For years, MATYS competed using a mousepad that many fans jokingly consider one of the worst ever seen in professional Counter-Strike.

SunPayus

During his time with Heroic, he won one of esports' strangest trophies: a stone linked to the legacy of Genghis Khan.

BetBoom Team

zorte

He and his wife have been together since high school and have now spent more than a decade together.

Boombl4

Throughout his career, Boombl4 has led six different rosters to Counter-Strike Majors.

Magnojez

Outside the server, he is one of donk's closest friends.

d1Ledez

Cologne 2026 marks his Major debut. He previously qualified for PGL Copenhagen 2024, but visa issues prevented his team from attending.

FL4MUS

School authorities once called the police after he was caught vaping in a school restroom.

Aurora

MAJ3R

Despite representing Turkish teams throughout his career, MAJ3R has French roots and feels more comfortable speaking French than Turkish.

woxic

The Turkish AWPer is left-handed and uses his mouse with his left hand.

Soulfly

Even his own brother doubted that he could become a professional player. Soulfly never stopped believing in himself and eventually proved everyone wrong.

Wicadia

Following Aurora's loss at the Esports World Cup 2025, Wicadia was visibly emotional and broke down in tears.

XANTARES

The Turkish superstar underwent surgery to treat hyperhidrosis, a condition that causes excessive sweating in the palms.

9z Team

HUASOPEEK

He was born in rural Chile. Interestingly, the word "huaso" is used to describe a traditional Chilean cowboy or farmer.

meyern

Regarded as South America's biggest prodigy, meyern joined his first professional team at 14 and was already playing alongside FalleN in MIBR by age 17.

luchov

Visa issues prevented him from attending the Austin Major, opening the door for Legacy to take BESTIA's spot.

dgt

He is the only player on the roster with a Major semifinal appearance, reaching the final four with paiN Gaming.

max

Because of a condition called keratoconus, max sits unusually close to his monitor while playing.

Falcons vs Vitality at IEM Cologne 2026: The Major's Biggest Quarterfinal

Final Thoughts

Every playoff player in Cologne has a unique story. Some were top students, some overcame family doubts, and others found support from unexpected people along the way. These stories are a reminder that every professional player is much more than the statistics on the scoreboard.