BIG qualify for IEM Cologne Major after overhaul

BIG secured a spot at the IEM Cologne Major 2026 after a midseason roster overhaul and the appointment of Benjamin “blameF” Bremer as the team’s in‑game leader, reversing a poor start to the year and earning a berth at their home Major in Cologne. The qualification followed a string of wins at lower-tier LAN events and a title at HLC Belgrade PRO that delivered the ranking points needed.

The organization struggled in early 2026, missing the Austin and Budapest Majors and falling from 38th to 87th in the VRS rankings amid roster changes. Management rebuilt the roster over the winter, bringing back Josef “faveN” Baumann, signing 20-year-old AWPer Gleb “gr1ks” Gazin and recruiting blameF from fnatic to handle calling duties.

With an effectively two-month-old core, BIG compiled results at several events that accumulated LAN match wins and ranking points. The team won Roman Imperium Cup IV and United21 Esplay Challenge Season 1, claimed NODWIN Clutch Series 5, finished second at BC Game Masters Championship and sealed Major qualification by winning HLC Belgrade PRO.

Gr1ks averaged a 1.14 rating in 2026 across the events he played, though most of those matches were against lower-tier opposition. The organization and coaching staff will now test the rebuilt lineup against top competition in Cologne.

Johannes “tabseN” Wodarz reflected on the qualification as a major personal milestone, saying, “Being able to say now that we are going to play this Major in Cologne feels almost unreal.” He framed the result as part of a longer effort to revive German Counter-Strike and credited the new leadership for bringing structure and firepower to the team.

BlameF cited alignment on roles, standards and team character as reasons he accepted the captaincy. “They described the character they believed they needed in order to get better results, and that description was very close to what I feel like I can contribute,” he said. The Dane also described holding players to shared values and addressing behavioral patterns both on and off the server as priorities for the squad.

BIG will begin Stage 1 of IEM Cologne Major 2026 against Liquid on June 2. Public statements from the team emphasize growth and consistency rather than a specific finish; tabseN has set a personal goal of reaching Stage 3. BlameF urged the team to treat the event as a learning opportunity and said he would hold the roster accountable if performance falls short.

BIG’s qualification ends a period of instability and sends the roster into the Major with new leadership, a restored core and recent competitive momentum. The team will face higher-level opponents in Cologne, where results will show whether their run through tier-two events translates to the Major stage.