Thorin Predicts the Winner of the IEM Cologne Major 2026

Duncan “Thorin” Shields considers Team Spirit to be one of the top favorites for the upcoming IEM Cologne Major 2026 Counter-Strike 2 tournament.

The analyst shared this opinion on YouTube.

“Spirit looks like a team capable of winning the IEM Cologne Major. And even if you don’t consider them the top favorite of the tournament, they definitely rank among at least the top 3 or top 4 contenders for the title. They’ll definitely go far—at least to the semifinals, possibly to the finals.”

Acording to Duncan “Thorin” Shields, even skeptics should have no doubt that the team can go far in the playoffs. Moreover, the analyst believes that in decisive matches, Danil “Donk” Kryshkovets will be able to fully prove himself, determining the outcome. Thorin also believes that the team’s overall level of preparation currently looks promising.

“If the team makes it to the semifinals or finals, then, first of all, Donk is capable of single-handedly winning practically any match for them. Second, the team’s current form looks promising. Furthermore, we mustn’t forget the influence of the coaching staff and how much the team’s overall level has improved.”

As a reminder, Leonid “Chopper” Vishnyakov previously shared what motivates Danil “Donk” Kryshkovets to train in CS2.