REZ on the first stage of the IEM Cologne Major 2026: “You can’t underestimate anyone here.”
GamerLegion rifler Fredrik “REZ” Sterner commented on the match against NRG in an interview at the IEM Cologne Major 2026, discussed some unusual moments in the match, and shared his thoughts on the unpredictability of the tournament’s first stage.
On the match against NRG
We got off to a great start—we won the force buy and all that. I think toward the end of the first half, they managed to close the gap a bit on the defensive side, and those rounds, I think, were very important for them heading into the second half. And yeah, to be honest, the game got a little shaky. But in the end, we still managed to keep our cool, especially in that clutch by Tauson. So, I think we handled it well.
On the grenade misses and shooting at a teammate during the match
We’ll see a lot more strange moments like that in the future. I think this is exactly the kind of tournament where that happens. Plus, there were a lot of kills through smoke—I think there were a few moments like that, too. You almost never see that in standard tournaments. So it’s going to be fun. I’m already looking forward to the next matches.
On opponents in the first stage and the Bo1 format
I don’t think you can underestimate anyone here. Win two pistol rounds, and you’re already in a very good position. And I think that’s exactly what makes these matches so dangerous: anyone can win here. As I said, you can’t underestimate anyone. That’s exactly how we’re approaching the tournament right now. We’ll prepare for every opponent just as we usually do, regardless of who we’re playing against.
On the opening day of IEM Cologne Major 2026, GamerLegion secured two consecutive victories, defeating NRG and SINNERS Esports. The team’s next opponent will be BetBoom Team—the match for a spot in the tournament’s second stage begins today at 5:30 p.m. Moscow time.
