# ESL One Cologne 2015

ESL One Cologne 2015 was the sixth Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major Championship that was held from August 14–18, 2015 at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne. It was organized by Electronic Sports League. The Cologne event was the first ESL tournament that required competitors to take drug tests, which all came up negative. The tournament had a total prize pool of US$250,000. The online livestream was viewed by around 27 million viewers with a peak of 1.3 million concurrent viewers.
Eight teams were in the playoffs. Fnatic, Luminosity Gaming, Natus Vincere, Ninjas in Pyjamas, Team EnVyUs, Team SoloMid, and Virtus.pro were returning Legends. Team Kinguin was the only new Legend in the tournament, replacing mousesports, which failed to make the top eight. Fnatic, which defeated Luminosity Gaming and Virtus.pro, was the winner of the event after defeating Team EnVyUs, which defeated Natus Vincere and Team SoloMid, 2–0. Fnatic was the first team to have consecutive major titles and would be the only team to do so until SK Gaming (which was Luminosity Gaming at this tournament) when the Brazilian team won MLG Columbus 2016 and ESL One Cologne 2016.

## Format

The top eight teams from ESL One Katowice 2015 ("Legends") received direct invitations to Katowice. In addition, eight other teams (the "Challengers") emerged from offline qualifiers: four from the European qualifier, two from the Asian qualifier, and two from the North American qualifier.
Teams were split up into four groups, and all group matches were best-of-ones. In the first group stage, the highest seed played the lowest seed in each group and the second and third seeds played each other. The winner of those two matches then played each other to determine which team moved on to the playoff stage; the loser of this match received a "high seed" in the second group stage. The two losers from the initial matches were given "low seeds" in the second group stage, while the high seed received a bye. In the second group stage, the groups were shuffled so that teams faced new opponents. However, each group still contained one high seed and two low seeds. The two low seeds in each group played each other, and the winner of that match played the high seed in the group. The winner of that match qualified for the playoff stage.
The playoffs bracket consisted of eight teams, two from each group. All of these matches were best-of-three, single elimination. Teams advanced in the bracket until a winner was decided.

### Map pool

There were seven maps to choose from. However, Nuke was taken out of the active map pool and Train was brought back in for the first time since the second Major, EMS One Katowice 2014. Before each match in the group stage, both teams banned two maps. The map for the match was then randomly selected from the remaining three maps. In the playoffs, each team first banned one map, then chose one map. The two chosen maps were the first two maps in the best-of-three. If the series were to require a third map, the map was randomly selected from the three remaining maps.
* Maps
* Cache
* Cobblestone
* Dust II
* Inferno
* Mirage
* Overpass
* Train

## Qualifiers

Four teams from the European Qualifier, two teams from the Asian Qualifier, and two teams from the North American Qualifier moved on to the major.
Sixteen European teams were placed in two separate brackets. Two teams from each bracket moved on to the major. In the Asian and North American Qualifiers, eight teams were placed in two groups and were played out like in previous majors' group stages. The top two moved on to a four team bracket. The winners of the matches move on to the major.

### European Qualifier

| Upper round 1 | Upper round 1 | Upper round 1 | Upper round 2 | Upper round 2 | Upper round 2 | Upper final | Upper final | Upper final | | | | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified |
| Team Property | Team Property | 16 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| PiTER | PiTER | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| PiTER | PiTER | 7 | Team Property | Team Property | 14 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Team Dignitas | Team Dignitas | 16 | | | | | | | | | |
| Team Dignitas | Team Dignitas | 16 | Team Dignitas | Team Dignitas | 16 | | | | | | | | | |
| OverGaming | OverGaming | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| OverGaming | OverGaming | 9 | | | | Team Dignitas | Team Dignitas | 8 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Team Kinguin | Team Kinguin | 16 | | | | | | |
| FlipSid3 Tactics | FlipSid3 Tactics | 14 | | | | Team Kinguin | Team Kinguin | 16 | | | | | | |
| KILLERFISH | KILLERFISH | 16 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| KILLERFISH | KILLERFISH | 16 | KILLERFISH | KILLERFISH | 8 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Team Kinguin | Team Kinguin | 16 | | | | | | | | | |
| Team Kinguin | Team Kinguin | 16 | Team Kinguin | Team Kinguin | 16 | | | | | | | | | |
| PENTA Sports | PENTA Sports | 9 | | | | | | | | | | Team Kinguin | Team Kinguin | Team Kinguin |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | FlipSid3 Tactics | FlipSid3 Tactics | FlipSid3 Tactics |
| Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 2 | Lower round 2 | Lower round 2 | Lower round 3 | Lower round 3 | Lower round 3 | Lower final | Lower final | Lower final | |
| | | | KILLERFISH | KILLERFISH | 16 | | | | | | | | | |
| PiTER | PiTER | 8 | OverGaming | OverGaming | 8 | | | | Team Dignitas | Team Dignitas | 16 | |
| OverGaming | OverGaming | 16 | | | | KILLERFISH | KILLERFISH | 16 | FlipSid3 Tactics | FlipSid3 Tactics | 19 | |
| | | | | | | FlipSid3 Tactics | FlipSid3 Tactics | 19 | | | | | | |
| | | | Team Property | Team Property | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| FlipSid3 Tactics | FlipSid3 Tactics | 19 | FlipSid3 Tactics | FlipSid3 Tactics | 16 | | | | | | | |
| PENTA Sports | PENTA Sports | 17 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Upper round 1 | Upper round 1 | Upper round 1 | Upper round 2 | Upper round 2 | Upper round 2 | Upper final | Upper final | Upper final | | | | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified |
| HellRaisers | HellRaisers | 19 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| LGB eSports | LGB eSports | 17 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| LGB eSports | LGB eSports | 17 | HellRaisers | HellRaisers | 14 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Team eBettle | Team eBettle | 16 | | | | | | | | | |
| Epiphany Bolt | Epiphany Bolt | 19 | Team eBettle | Team eBettle | 16 | | | | | | | | | |
| Team eBettle | Team eBettle | 22 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Team eBettle | Team eBettle | 22 | | | | Team eBettle | Team eBettle | 25 | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Titan | Titan | 23 | | | | | | |
| Team ROCCAT | Team ROCCAT | 9 | | | | Titan | Titan | 23 | | | | | | |
| k1ck eSports.hu | k1ck eSports.hu | 16 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| k1ck eSports.hu | k1ck eSports.hu | 16 | k1ck eSports.hu | k1ck eSports.hu | 8 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Titan | Titan | 16 | | | | | | | | | |
| Gamers2 | Gamers2 | 5 | Titan | Titan | 16 | | | | | | | | | |
| Titan | Titan | 16 | | | | | | | | | | Team eBettle | Team eBettle | Team eBettle |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Titan | Titan | Titan |
| Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 2 | Lower round 2 | Lower round 2 | Lower round 3 | Lower round 3 | Lower round 3 | Lower final | Lower final | Lower final | |
| | | | k1ck eSports.hu | k1ck eSports.hu | 9 | | | | | | | | | |
| LGB eSports | LGB eSports | 16 | LGB eSports | LGB eSports | 16 | | | | Titan | Titan | 16 | |
| Epiphany Bolt | Epiphany Bolt | 11 | | | | LGB eSports | LGB eSports | 16 | LGB eSports | LGB eSports | 2 | |
| | | | | | | HellRaisers | HellRaisers | 7 | | | | | | |
| | | | HellRaisers | HellRaisers | 16 | | | | | | | | | |
| Team ROCCAT | Team ROCCAT | 5 | Gamers2 | Gamers2 | 9 | | | | | | | |
| Gamers2 | Gamers2 | 16 | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Asian Qualifier

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Qualified | Qualified |
| Team Immunity | Team Immunity | 2 | | |
| MVP Karnal | MVP Karnal | 0 | | |
| MVP Karnal | MVP Karnal | 0 | Team Immunity | Team Immunity |
| | | | Renegades | Renegades |
| Renegades | Renegades | 2 | Renegades | Renegades |
| myRevenge.kr | myRevenge.kr | 0 | | |

### North American Qualifier

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Qualified | Qualified |
| Cloud9 | Cloud9 | 2 | | |
| eLevate | eLevate | 0 | | |
| eLevate | eLevate | 0 | Cloud9 | Cloud9 |
| | | | Counter Logic Gaming | Counter Logic Gaming |
| Counter Logic Gaming | Counter Logic Gaming | 2 | Counter Logic Gaming | Counter Logic Gaming |
| Team Liquid | Team Liquid | 0 | | |

## Broadcast talent

Hosts
* Oliver James "OJ Borg" Borg D'Anastasi
* William "Chobra" Cho
Analysts
* Henry "HenryG" Greer
* Robin "Fifflaren" Johansson
* Casper "cadiaN" Møller
* Jason "moses" O'Toole
Commentators
* Anders Blume
* Jason "JKaplan" Kaplan
* Auguste "Semmler" Massonnat
* Joe Miller
* Alex "Machine" Richardson
* Lauren "Pansy" Scott
* Leigh "Deman" Smith
Observers
* Yanko "YNk" Paunović
* Simon "pAn" Schumacher
Others
* Sean Charles (Reporting)
* Soe "Soembie" Gschwind-Penski (Esports in Cinemas)

### Broadcasts

All streams were broadcast on Twitch in various languages.
ESL CSGO
99Damage
Bebe
BiDa
Castpoint
CNONE
ESL China
ESL CZSK
ESL Italy
ESL Poland
ESL Spain
ESL Turkey
Fraglider
GPlayTV
Hungarian Esport TV
KeitaTV
Mito
NVIDIA France
ON
Storm Studio
striimIT
Strimok
VsnT
WeAreInVICtus
Teams
Legends
Fnatic
Ninjas in Pyjamas
Team EnVyUs
Virtus.pro
Luminosity Gaming
mousesports
Natus Vincere
Team SoloMid
Challengers
Cloud9
Counter Logic Gaming
FlipSid3 Tactics
Renegades
Team eBettle
Team Immunity
Team Kinguin
Titan
↑ The roster of Keyd Stars was signed by Luminosity Gaming.
↑ mousesports acquire PENTA Sports's Legends spot after signing Johannes "nex" Maget, Timo "Spiidi" Richter, and Denis "denis" Howell.
Group Stage 1
Key
Team automatically advanced to Playoffs
Team advanced to second Group Stage as high seed
Team advanced to second Group Stage as low seed
Group A
Pos
Team
W
L
RF
RA
RD
Pts
1
Team SoloMid
2
0
32
24
+18
6
2
Ninjas in Pyjamas
1
1
19
29
−10
3
3
Counter Logic Gaming
0
1
13
16
−3
0
4
Renegades
0
1
11
16
−5
0
Group A Scores
Team
Score
Map
Score
Team
Ninjas in Pyjamas
16
Dust II
13
Counter Logic Gaming
Team SoloMid
16
Train
11
Renegades
Ninjas in Pyjamas
3
Cache
16
Team SoloMid
Group B
Pos
Team
W
L
RF
RA
RD
Pts
1
Team EnVyUs
2
0
35
19
+16
6
2
Luminosity Gaming
1
1
32
25
+7
3
3
Team Kinguin
0
1
6
16
−10
0
4
FlipSid3 Tactics
0
1
3
16
−13
0
Group B Scores
Team
Score
Map
Score
Team
Team EnVyUs
16
Inferno
3
FlipSid3 Tactics
Luminosity Gaming
16
Overpass
6
Team Kinguin
Team EnVyUs
19
Cobblestone
16
Luminosity Gaming
Group C
Pos
Team
W
L
RF
RA
RD
Pts
1
Fnatic
2
0
32
4
+28
6
2
Natus Vincere
1
1
21
33
−12
3
3
Titan
0
1
17
19
−2
0
4
Team eBettle
0
1
2
16
−14
0
Group C Scores
Team
Score
Map
Score
Team
Fnatic
16
Mirage
2
Team eBettle
Natus Vincere
19
Overpass
17
Titan
Fnatic
16
Inferno
2
Natus Vincere
Group D
Pos
Team
W
L
RF
RA
RD
Pts
1
Virtus.pro
2
0
32
16
+16
6
2
Cloud9
1
1
24
26
−2
3
3
mousesports
0
1
10
16
−10
0
4
Team Immunity
0
1
8
16
−8
0
Group D Scores
Team
Score
Map
Score
Team
Virtus.pro
16
Cobblestone
8
Team Immunity
mousesports
10
Overpass
16
Cloud9
Virtus.pro
16
Cobblestone
8
Cloud9
Group Stage 2
Key
Qualified for Playoffs
Eliminated from tournament
Group E
Pos
Team
W
L
RF
RA
RD
Pts
1
Natus Vincere
1
0
16
14
+2
3
2
Counter Logic Gaming
1
1
30
30
+0
3
3
Team eBettle
0
1
14
16
−2
0
Group E Scores
Team
Score
Map
Score
Team
Counter Logic Gaming
16
Mirage
14
Team eBettle
Natus Vincere
16
Cobblestone
14
Counter Logic Gaming
Group F
Pos
Team
W
L
RF
RA
RD
Pts
1
Team Kinguin
2
0
32
26
+6
6
2
Cloud9
0
1
13
16
−3
0
3
Team Immunity
0
1
13
16
−3
0
Group F Scores
Team
Score
Map
Score
Team
Team Kinguin
16
Dust II
13
Team Immunity
Cloud9
13
Dust II
16
Team Kinguin
Group G
Pos
Team
W
L
RF
RA
RD
Pts
1
Ninjas in Pyjamas
1
0
16
5
+11
3
2
Renegades
1
1
21
25
−4
3
3
Titan
0
1
9
16
−7
0
Group G Scores
Team
Score
Map
Score
Team
Titan
9
Mirage
16
Renegades
Ninjas in Pyjamas
16
Inferno
5
Renegades
Group H
Pos
Team
W
L
RF
RA
RD
Pts
1
Luminosity Gaming
1
0
22
18
+4
3
2
FlipSid3 Tactics
1
1
34
36
−2
3
3
mousesports
0
1
14
16
−2
0
Group H Scores
Team
Score
Map
Score
Team
mousesports
14
Cobblestone
16
FlipSid3 Tactics
Luminosity Gaming
22
Cobblestone
18
FlipSid3 Tactics
Playoffs
Bracket
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals
         B
Team EnVyUs
2
E
Natus Vincere
0
B
Team EnVyUs
2
A
Team SoloMid
1
A
Team SoloMid
2
F
Team Kinguin
0
B
Team EnVyUs
0
C
Fnatic
2
D
Virtus.pro
2
G
Ninjas in Pyjamas
0
D
Virtus.pro
1
C
Fnatic
2
C
Fnatic
2
H
Luminosity Gaming
0
Quarterfinals
Team EnVyUs vs. Natus Vincere
Casters: Anders Blume, Deman, & JKaplan
Team EnVyUs vs. Natus Vincere Scores
Team
Score
Map
Score
Team
Team EnVyUs
16
Inferno
13
Natus Vincere
Team EnVyUs
16
Mirage
10
Natus Vincere
Team EnVyUs
Dust II
Natus Vincere
Team SoloMid vs. Team Kinguin
Casters: Pansy, HenryG, & Machine
Team SoloMid vs. Team Kinguin
Team
Score
Map
Score
Team
Team SoloMid
16
Dust II
6
Team Kinguin
Team SoloMid
16
Overpass
8
Team Kinguin
Team SoloMid
Inferno
Team Kinguin
Virtus.pro vs. Ninjas in Pyjamas
Casters: Anders Blume, Semmler, & moses
Virtus.pro vs. Ninjas in Pyjamas
Team
Score
Map
Score
Team
Virtus.pro
16
Train
14
Ninjas in Pyjamas
Virtus.pro
16
Inferno
5
Ninjas in Pyjamas
Virtus.pro
Cache
Ninjas in Pyjamas
Fnatic vs. Luminosity Gaming
Casters: Deman, Joe Miller, & Fifflaren
Fnatic vs. Luminosity Gaming
Team
Score
Map
Score
Team
Fnatic
16
Train
5
Luminosity Gaming
Fnatic
16
Mirage
14
Luminosity Gaming
Fnatic
Cache
Luminosity Gaming
Semifinals
Team EnVyUs vs. Team SoloMid
Casters: Anders Blume, Semmler, & moses
Team EnVyUs vs. Team SoloMid
Team
Score
Map
Score
Team
Team EnVyUs
16
Cache
12
Team SoloMid
Team EnVyUs
8
Dust II
16
Team SoloMid
Team EnVyUs
16
Inferno
9
Team SoloMid
Virtus.pro vs. Fnatic
Casters: Pansy, Machine, & Fifflaren
Virtus.pro vs. Fnatic
Team
Score
Map
Score
Team
Virtus.pro
16
Mirage
6
Fnatic
Virtus.pro
14
Inferno
16
Fnatic
Virtus.pro
7
Cobblestone
16
Fnatic
Finals
Casters: Deman, Anders Blume, & HenryG
With its third title, Fnatic would be the only team to win back-to-back majors and have multiple titles until SK Gaming, which won MLG Columbus 2016 and ESL One Cologne 2016. Flusha was named the most valuable player of Cologne 2015.
Team EnVyUs vs. Fnatic
Team
Score
Map
Score
Team
Team EnVyUs
15
Dust II
19
Fnatic
Team EnVyUs
7
Cobblestone
16
Fnatic
Team EnVyUs
Inferno
Fnatic
Final standings
Place
Team
Prize Money
Seed for DreamHack Open Cluj-Napoca 2015
Roster
Coach
1st
Fnatic
US$100,000
Legends status
JW, flusha, pronax, olofmeister, KRiMZ
vuggo
2nd
Team EnVyUs
US$50,000
kioShiMa, Happy, kennyS, NBK, apEX
3rd–4th
Team SoloMid
US$22,000
karrigan, dev1ce, cajunb, dupreeh, Xyp9x
3k2
Virtus.pro
TaZ, NEO, pashaBiceps, byali, Snax
kuben
5–8th
Luminosity Gaming
US$10,000
FalleN, fer, steel, coldzera, boltz
nak
Natus Vincere
Edward, Zeus, seized, flamie, GuardiaN
starix
Ninjas in Pyjamas
f0rest, GeT RiGhT, Xizt, friberg, allu
natu
Team Kinguin
Maikelele, dennis, fox, ScreaM, rain
LEGIJA
9–12th
Cloud9
US$2,000
Main qualifier invitation
Skadoodle, sgares, fREAKAZOiD, n0thing, shroud
Counter Logic Gaming
hazed, reltuC, tarik, jdm64, FNS
FlipSid3 Tactics
B1ad3, bondik, markeloff, WorldEdit, DavCost
Johnta
Renegades
SPUNJ, Havoc, jks, AZR, Yam
13–16th
mousesports
US$2,000
nex, Spidii, denis, chrisJ, gob b
Team eBettle
peet, GruBy, Hyper, rallen, Furlan
Team Immunity
SnypeR, USTILO, Rickeh, James, emagine
Titan
shox, Rpk, SmithZz, Maniac, Ex6TenZ
References
↑ Rittfeldt, Joachim (August 8, 2015). "ESL One Cologne – About". Aftonbladet. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
↑ Chalk, Andy (August 25, 2015). "ESL One Cologne drug tests come up empty". PC Gamer. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
↑ Neuman, Scott (August 13, 2015). "Video Game League Announces Random Drug Tests For Competitors". NPR. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
↑ Chalk, Andy (July 23, 2015). "ESL to begin randomized drug testing at ESL One Cologne". PC Gamer. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
↑ Wynne, Jared (August 26, 2015). "ESL One Cologne pulls in $4.2 million in revenue for teams, sets viewer records". The Daily Dot. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
↑ Rad, Chloi (August 25, 2015). "27 Million People Watched the Biggest Counter-Strike Tournament Ever". IGN. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
↑ "The format for ESL One Cologne 2015". ESL One. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
↑ Nordmark, Sam. "All 16 teams for ESL One Cologne have been determined". OnGamers. Archived from the original on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
↑ Kulasingham, Nilu (July 28, 2015). "Luminosity picks up ex-Keyd Stars roster". HLTV.org. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
↑ Mira, Luis (May 4, 2015). "mouz sign PENTA trio". HLTV.org. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
External links
Official page
vteCounter-Strike in esportsGames
Counter-Strike
Condition Zero
Source
Online
Global Offensive
Counter-Strike 2
Tournaments
BLAST Premier
DreamHack
ELeague
ESEA League
ESL
ESL Pro League
Intel Extreme Masters
Esports World Convention
FACEIT
International Esports Federation
World Electronic Sports Games
X Games
Majors
Jönköping 2013
Katowice 2014
Cologne 2014
Jönköping 2014
Katowice 2015
Cologne 2015
Cluj-Napoca 2015
Columbus 2016
Cologne 2016
Atlanta 2017
Kraków 2017
Boston 2018
London 2018
Katowice 2019
Berlin 2019
Rio 2020 (cancelled)
Stockholm 2021
Antwerp 2022
Rio 2022
Paris 2023
Copenhagen 2024
Shanghai 2024
Austin 2025
Defunct
BLAST Pro Series
Championship Gaming Series
Cyberathlete Professional League
World Cyber Games
World e-Sports Games
World Series of Video Games
Notable teamsEurope
ALTERNATE aTTaX
Astralis
Aurora
Cloud9
Copenhagen Wolves
ENCE
Eternal Fire
Falcons
FaZe Clan
Fnatic
G2 Esports
Godsent
Heroic
MOUZ
Natus Vincere
Ninjas in Pyjamas
OG
Team SoloMid
Team Spirit
Team Vitality
Virtus.pro
Americas
Complexity Gaming
Furia Esports
Imperial Esports
MIBR
Immortals Gaming Club
NRG Esports
Team Liquid
Asia/Oceania
Gen.G
FlyQuest
Talon Esports
Defunct
100 Thieves
Counter Logic Gaming
Dignitas
Echo Fox
Epsilon Esports
Evil Geniuses
Flipside Tactics
FunPlus Phoenix
Gambit Esports
LDLC OL
Luminosity Gaming
Misfits Gaming
North
OpTic Gaming
Renegades
Selfless Gaming
SK Gaming
Space Soldiers
Splyce
Team 3D
Team Envy
Tempo Storm
Titan
Vega Squadron
Vici Gaming
Notable commentators
Anders Blume
Paul "Redeye" Chaloner
Eefje "Sjokz" Depoortere
Sean "sgares" Gares
Richard Lewis
Joe Miller
vteEsports competition hosted by ESLESL OneCounter-Strike: Global Offensive
Katowice 2014
Cologne 2014
Katowice 2015
Cologne 2015
Cologne 2016
New York 2016
Cologne 2017
Cologne 2018
Cologne 2019
Rio 2022
Dota 2
Genting 2017
Hamburg 2017
ESL Pro League
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11 EU
11 NA
11 EU
11 NA
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Intel Extreme Masters
Season I
II
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
WC
X
WC
San Jose
Cologne
XI
XII
Oakland
WC
XIII
WC
XIV
XV
XVI
2022
2023
2024 :