Witnessing a lesser-known team conquer an established name in esports and traditional sports is a sight to behold. Whether it’s on the football pitch or the main stage of a high-profile tournament, the idea of a team defying the odds frequently captures the imagination of fans across the world.

This year’s IEM Cologne Major has reached the playoffs, with eight of the world’s best Counter-Strike teams battling in the LANXESS Arena for a chance to lift one of the most prestigious trophies in competitive gaming. 

Two of the eight teams have navigated their way to Counter-Strike’s cathedral after overcoming the hurdles of a last-minute roster change and a lack of experience in Tier 1 tournaments. Despite their adversities, the underdogs have a genuine chance of springing a surprise against the favored powerhouse rosters. 

Two days before the opening stage, Russian organization BetBoom revealed that rifler Pavel “S1ren” Ogloblin wouldn’t feature in the starting lineup for the first phase of the Major. Despite hopes of S1ren rejoining the team later in the tournament, it was later confirmed that Daniil “d1Ledez” Kustov will remain with the team for the duration of the tournament. 

A last-minute overhaul of a roster days before taking to the server in the biggest Counter-Strike tournament of the year immediately lowered expectations for a BetBoom side displaying a recent uptick in form. Even with S1ren absent, the team cruised through Stage 1 with a flawless 3-0 record. Stage 2 was another strong showing despite a stand-in. Aside from a defeat to Team Spirit, BetBoom recorded wins over GamerLegion, M80, and Monte to advance to Stage 3, the final round before the playoffs.

The third stage of a Counter-Strike Major is where the world’s strongest teams enter the competition. Opening victories over The MongolZ and Team Falcons preceded two defeats at the hands of FURIA and Team Vitality, setting up a do-or-die best-of-three against FUT Esports for a chance to take a seat at the Cathedral.

Superior defensive strategies made all the difference for BetBoom, securing a 2-0 sweep over FUT Esports to secure its first playoff appearance at a Major. The last-minute roster change, combined with a Stage 1 start, is a testament to the team’s resilience and intent to succeed against some of Counter-Strike’s big guns.

South America continues to produce a wealth of talent capable of performing on the big stage. After finding form at regional tournaments, 9z has become the latest team from the region to excel despite fielding a roster of relative unknowns.

The trio of Matias “HUASOPEEK” Ibañez Hernandez, Luciano “luchov” Herrera, and Ignacio “meyern” Meyer has never competed at a Counter-Strike Major in their careers, but has showcased incredible potential with a top-eight finish at PGL Astana earlier this year. After beating FlyQuest, Astralis, and TYLOO in Stage 2, the South American side had earned its chance to battle against Counter-Strike’s juggernauts.

9z began turning heads in round two of Stage 3, scoring a shock 2-1 victory over Team Vitality, a team many believe will go on to lift the trophy. A Team Spirit rematch in round three followed. After three gruelling maps that required overtime, Team Spirit emerged victorious. Although 9z lost, giving another world-class team a run for its money, it earned the South Americans plenty of new fans rooting for 9z to qualify. 

With momentum and plenty of newfound attention on its side, 9z bested The MongolZ comfortably in the fifth and final round of Stage 3, booking its place in the top eight. An all-South American duel against FURIA awaits 9z in what could be a changing of the guard for the region’s Counter-Strike scene. 

The recent dominance of Team Vitality has introduced a sense of predictability for Counter-Strike, resulting in some members of the community choosing not to tune into Tier 1 tournaments.

A deep run for underdog teams allows fans to become emotionally invested in players looking to make an impact and disrupt the status quo. Armed with a narrative to follow and a sense that anything can happen, underdogs play an integral role in the wider context of a tournament. 

The final Major of the Global Offensive era in 2023 played host to Into the Breach’s unexpected journey to the playoffs. The small UK organization hastily assembled a roster in time for the European RMR, defeating Sprout, Virtus.pro, and B8 to earn a place in the Legends Stage. 

Success against FaZe Clan, ENCE, and Fnatic in the Legends Stage booked Into the Breach’s place in the Champions Stage, much to the delight of the UK fans in attendance and viewers watching from home. While the team wasn’t able to defeat Team Vitality in the quarter-final, Into the Breach’s unorthodox playing style and British personality became a significant talking point in CS:GO’s swansong.  

Outside of Counter-Strike, Dota 2 has had its fair share of underdog stories that defy the odds and lift the Aegis. In 2018, OG Esports headed into The International with an overhauled roster, cementing its place as a long shot for outright victory. Throughout the tournament, the inexperienced team defeated the likes of Evil Geniuses and tournament favorites PSG.LGD is one of the biggest underdog stories ever seen.

BetBoom’s and 9z’s journey to the playoffs has injected a breath of fresh air into a scene where only a handful of teams are in contention for championship glory. If BetBoom overcomes Aurora Gaming and 9z bests FURIA, the Cinderella stories for both sides can become a notable talking point alongside Team Falcons’ quest for its inaugural Major and Team Vitality looking to cement its legacy as one of the most dominant esports rosters in history.