Bymas returns to IEM Cologne after five-year gap

Aurimas “Bymas” Pipiras secured a spot at the IEM Cologne Major with Monte, marking his return to Valve Major competition five years after his last appearance at PGL Stockholm 2021. He also received his first in-game player sticker and posted on X, “17,400 hours later, childhood dream completed.”

Monte earned qualification for Cologne after strong late-2025 results. The team finished second at Digital Crusade DraculaN Season 6 and won DreamHack Knockout Stockholm 2025. Monte advanced through Stage 1 of ESL Pro League Season 23 and recorded an online win over Natus Vincere at BLAST Bounty. Monte will begin play in Stage 2 of the German event.

Bymas, 22, began his professional career as a stand-in on a high-profile roster despite limited competitive experience. He later joined MOUZ in summer 2020, where coaching from Allan “Rejin” Petersen and Torbjørn “mithR” Nyborg helped improve his tactical play. MOUZ reached the top 10 in global rankings on several occasions and peaked at No. 6 after winning Flashpoint 3. The shift to online competitions during the pandemic limited Major appearances, leaving Stockholm 2021 as his only Valve event while at MOUZ.

After MOUZ, he signed with Into the Breach and moved into tier-two events. He described that period as “a terrible period of my life,” citing immature behavior within the roster and low commitment from some teammates. He left the team after eight months and the organization later suspended operations. A family tragedy then kept him out of competition for about a year.

A win with Lithuania at the EEF European Esports Championship 2025 led to a trial with Monte after teammate ryu recommended him. He accepted the offer and helped the team climb in the VRS ranking from No. 86 to No. 37 by the end of 2025, aided by LAN results. He praised the VRS emphasis on LAN events, noting that LANs offer a clearer picture of team performance compared with online play.

Bymas set modest goals for Cologne. He aims to reach the playoffs and said advancing to Stage 3 would be “very cool.” He will be one of three Lithuanians at the Major and welcomed the chance to influence younger players; Džiugas “dziugss” Steponavičius has cited Bymas as an inspiration. “To know that I inspired someone to even grind to become a pro, and that the guy then becomes one of the best prospects in the game, is a very cool feeling,” he wrote.

Bymas and Monte will face top international teams in Cologne as they begin Stage 2 play. The qualification closes a five-year gap between the rifler’s Major appearances and returns him to Valve’s largest Counter-Strike stage.