ESL One Cologne 2016: results, champion and story
SK Gaming won ESL One Cologne 2016 in Cologne, Germany, beating Team Liquid 2–0 in the grand final. It was Major number 9 in the history of Counter-Strike and the first Major title for SK Gaming.
Quick facts
| Dates | July 2016 |
|---|---|
| Location | Cologne, Germany · Lanxess Arena |
| Game | CS:GO |
| Prize pool | $1,000,000 |
| Teams | 16 |
| Champion | SK Gaming |
| Runner-up | Team Liquid |
| Final | 2–0 (Train (SK 16–7), Cobblestone (SK 16–6)) |
| MVP | coldzera |
The story of ESL One Cologne 2016
SK Gaming defended the title they had won in Columbus. The roster, which had joined SK after a contract dispute around Luminosity Gaming, beat Team Liquid 2–0, 16–7 on Train and 16–6 on Cobblestone. Marcelo "coldzera" David won MVP again. Team Liquid’s run was a story in itself: it was the first North American team to reach a Major grand final, with a young Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyliev in the line-up. The draw was criticized: Group D, which contained the three top-ranked teams, was nicknamed the "Group of Death". Ninjas in Pyjamas lost their Legends status after eight straight Majors, ending the longest streak of the early era. Valve also changed the map pool for the event: Inferno was removed and Nuke returned after a rework.
Format
Four groups of four (best-of-one, with best-of-three deciders), then an eight-team single-elimination playoff with best-of-three series. 16 teams took part, and the prize pool was $1,000,000.
Line-ups
| Team | Result | Players |
|---|---|---|
| SK Gaming | Champion | FalleN, coldzera, fnx, TACO, fer Coach: zews |
| Team Liquid | Runner-up | Hiko, EliGE, jdm64, nitr0, s1mple Coach: peacemaker |
What made it memorable
- SK Gaming successfully defended the MLG Columbus title.
- Team Liquid were the first North American team in a Major grand final.
- Ninjas in Pyjamas lost Legends status after eight straight Majors.
- Inferno left the map pool; Nuke came back after a rework.
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FAQ
Who won ESL One Cologne 2016?
SK Gaming won ESL One Cologne 2016, beating Team Liquid 2–0 in the grand final. Maps: Train (SK 16–7), Cobblestone (SK 16–6).
Where and when was ESL One Cologne 2016 played?
ESL One Cologne 2016 took place on July 2016 in Cologne, Germany (Lanxess Arena). It was Major number 9, played in CS:GO.
How much was the prize pool at ESL One Cologne 2016?
The prize pool was $1,000,000 with 16 teams taking part.
Who was the MVP of ESL One Cologne 2016?
coldzera was named MVP of ESL One Cologne 2016.
Which players won ESL One Cologne 2016 for SK Gaming?
The winning line-up was FalleN, coldzera, fnx, TACO, fer, with zews as coach.
Sources
Oggo is independent and not affiliated with Valve or the organizers of ESL One Cologne 2016. Dates and results were checked against the sources above.