NiKo gets his Major: Falcons win IEM Cologne 2026
Falcons are the champions of the IEM Cologne Major 2026, and yes, that means NiKo has finally won a Major in his 17th attempt after previously losing in the final at both the ELEAGUE Boston Major 2018, and the PGL Major Stockholm 2021.
For winning the event, the team will, of course, get their in-game trophies for their account, but they will also take home $500,000 in prize winnings.
m0NESY was awarded the HLTV and DHL MVP awards for the event, capping off his impressive 1.25 tournament rating with a 1.31 in the grand final versus FURIA.
No more choking
Winning the Major doesn’t just end Falcons’ second-place curse, it also puts an end to the choking narrative that has plagued NiKo throughout his career.
The Bosnian was in fine form throughout the event, but also performed when it mattered most, topping the scoreboard in the grand final as he went 52-32 and recorded a 1.43 rating in the 3-0 win.
Falcons’ run was also legendary, and soon could be regarded as the greatest Major run in history. They put on banger after banger, taking down the likes of NAVI, Vitality, Spirit, and FURIA on their way to lifting the trophy.
As for reigning champions Vitality, they will be disappointed with their exit from the competition.
They underwhelmed throughout the Major, but their quarter-final exit to Falcons would never have been predicted prior to the event beginning.
The tournament itself also broke records for Counter-Strike, becoming the most-watched tournament ever both in terms of hours watched and peak viewers, with 2,750,000 tuning in to watch NiKo’s crowning moment.
