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IEM Cologne Playoffs Set as Falcons, G2 Advance and Crypto Sponsors Are Absent

Organizers dropped verified crypto partners, a move that shifts commercial exposure to traditional sponsors and leaves crypto wagering concentrated on independent prediction markets.

Overview

  • Organizers completed Stage 3 and seeded an eight‑team single‑elimination playoff that begins on Thursday, June 18 at LANXESS Arena in Cologne.
  • Team Falcons secured a playoff berth by beating Natus Vincere 2‑1 in a marathon match that required two overtimes on Sunday.
  • G2 Esports eliminated Natus Vincere with a 2‑1 win on Monday to advance to the quarterfinals and will face Team Spirit next.
  • Stage 3 used only best‑of‑3 series and the playoffs will run single‑elimination quarters and semis as best‑of‑3 with a best‑of‑5 final to reduce variance and reward deeper team rosters.
  • No verified crypto or blockchain sponsors appear on event materials, yet independent crypto prediction activity was heavy with Polymarket trading more than $300,000 on single matches and Bitget Wallet reporting about $12.3 million in related trading volume.