FlyQuest vs Team Liquid - IEM Cologne 2026 Stage 1

Liquid arrive in better shape than their recent form suggests. The 2-0 win over HEROIC just 12 hours ago provides genuine momentum. Yes, the 39% winrate over the last six months is a concern, but playoff-caliber teams often find another gear when Major stakes are on the line.

The map pool tells the real story. FlyQuest's Anubis and Dust2 numbers are impressive in isolation, but Liquid hold a 4-0 head-to-head record against FlyQuest since 2024. That is not a coincidence. It points to a coaching staff that has consistently solved FlyQuest's tactical setups, and there is no evidence from the recent form data that FlyQuest has found answers. Their 0-4 record suggests the strategic counter-plays simply are not there.

The veto will be decisive. Liquid's Inferno edge at 54% gives them a reliable comfort pick, while FlyQuest's Nuke vulnerability at 33% hands Liquid a clear target. If Nuke is forced into the decider, FlyQuest is in serious trouble. The structural advantages are too consistent to ignore.

Thunderpick odds(at time of writing):

Team Liquid to win 1.46

FlyQuest to win 2.54