According to information circulating in the media, the technical operator ESL has expressed the desire to abandon the Bo1 format during the Swiss stage at the IEM Cologne Major 2026, leaving only Bo3. The TO has submitted this request to Valve, but so far there is no information regarding their response.

We remind you that the next Major-level tournament will be the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, which will take place from December 4 to 14. At that event, the first rounds of the Swiss stage will be played in a Bo1 format until the moment when teams play matches for advancing to the playoffs or being eliminated from the tournament.