IEM Cologne Winners: The Previous Champions

IEM Cologne is undisputedly the most anticipated event in the whole of Counter-Strike, excluding majors.

Featuring the best teams in esports history, such as SK Gaming and Fnatic, the event showcases legendary rivalries and impressive performances.

With world-class talent coming together to face off for the title of champion, we witness history being written before our eyes.

Today, in anticipation of the event, we look back on the previous Cologne champions.

ESL One Cologne 2014 – NIP

NIP took down Fnatic 16-13 in an intense decider on Inferno, winning just by the skin of their teeth and handing Fnatic a great defeat.

This was quite the humiliating loss for Fnatic, due to how close the game was. Fnatic was winning 11-10 until Friberg decided to 1v2 Fnatic in such a vital round, turning the game’s conclusion.

This victory solidified NIP’s great heights they had always remained at in the eyes of the counterstrike community and why NIP remains such a sacred part of CSGO history.

NIP are indeed the godfathers of Counterstrike, especially the roster of Cologne 2014, GeT_RiGhT, Xizt, Fifflaren, Friberg, and F0rest. Let’s not forget these guys went on an 87-0 win streak at one point! Their victory at ESL One Cologne 2014 was a significant major title in their career.

ESL One Cologne 2015 – Fnatic

Fnatic absolutely dominated EnVyUS in the grand final. KennyS’ AWP, unfortunately, didn’t do EnVyUS much justice…

To put it briefly, Fnatic walked all over EnVyUS. Unfortunately for us, this wasn’t the ultimate matchup we were anticipating.

This was Fnatic’s most infamous line-up. Flusha, aka “Señor VAC,” Olofmeister, JW, Pronax, and Krimz. These are arguably alongside NIP, the founding fathers of CSGO pro history. Just the year before winning dreamhack winter 2013 in Jönköping.

Although this win was incredibly deserved, it led to many changes. Like the slow but sure downfall of the team, ESL Cologne 2015 remains one of the remnants of Fnatic’s proud days that we all still hold so close to our hearts.

ESL One Cologne 2016 – SK

The rise of the Brazilian era.

Coldzera, fer, FalleN, TACO, and fnx, made CSGO history. Their victory took place at the iconic LANXESS arena. Winning 2-0 and 16-6 in the final map, shattering team Liquids’ American dream of becoming the champions of Cologne 2016.

SK destroyed Team Liquid by 2-0, showing the fierce authority the Brazilian scene is ready to unleash onto the entirety of the CSGO pro scene.

Ultimately, their victory was seen as a one-off, merely to be left in the sands of time. But they were just getting started.

ESL One Cologne 2017 – SK

Same soldiers, different battle, with the addition of Felps!

These men shed blood, sweat, and tears to secure another glorious victory. SK had to overcome tough opponents in the semi finals to reach the grand final. They shut down Cloud9 3-0 and came back on the final map from a 10-4 disadvantage.

The Brazilians carved their names letter by letter into the CSGO scene. They were not to be reckoned with. Even the smoke criminal and shroud couldn’t stop the triumph of FalleN’s AWP and coldzera’s Deagle.

But, after this victory, SK began to fall short, not long after SK decided to disband its roster in 2018.

However, their legacy will last forever.

ESL One Cologne 2018 – Natus Vincere

After a great victory against BIG, it was clear that Smooya and the Germans tried. But their hopes and dreams died at the hands of Navi on the B bombsite of Inferno. Natus Vincere advanced through the upper bracket to reach the grand final.

With s1mple reaching his prime at this point, having Edward and Zeus, Navi was heading for the victory.

What chance did BIG have? Navi was destined to win this event.

This competition was huge, as it was one of the last times this legendary Navi roster played together. Not long after this event, Zeus parted ways from the roster, leaving everyone speechless.

Navi did a great thing here; as we know today, they continued to rule the CSGO scene.

ESL One Cologne 2019 – Team Liquid

The final winners of ESL One Cologne, before the event, rebranded to IEM Cologne. Team Liquid was one of the top eight teams that advanced from the Play-in Stage to the Group Stage.

Cologne was just one of the many successes for Team Liquid in the year 2019, at this point the team was simply unstoppable.

Captain America, the smoke criminal, the man of hair, EliGE, and NAF all brought tremendous hope to the North American scene and the world.

Team Liquid stomped Vitality with their explosive puggy gameplay, which unfortunately couldn’t be actioned by Zywoo’s AWP.

They destroyed Vitality 16-8, on again the most Puggy map in the game – Mirage,

Liquid went onto slowly but surely burnout, sad it was, but Liquid left their mark on the year of 2019, and each player on that roster will have a piece of our hearts.

The final winners of ESL One Cologne, before the event, rebranded to IEM Cologne.

It was a shame to see them not succeed in the major against Astralis.

IEM Cologne 2021 – NAVI

Following a dark period for esports, as COVID-19 forced competition online, CSGO returned to LAN in Cologne.

Under a new brand, Intel Extreme Masters, Cologne marked the end of the online era.

The highly anticipated event saw stacked playoffs ending with the dream final: NAVI facing off against G2 Esports.

A rematch of the final LAN event before the world shut down, 2021 saw a repetition of IEM Katowice 2020, as G2 was sent packing without winning a single map.

NAVI started their mini era, culminating at the PGL Stockholm Major, at IEM Cologne, as s1mple won his first of many MVP medals. NAVI’s victory secured them the prestigious EPT Championship title.