ESL One Cologne 2020 schedule, opening matches revealed

Aug 7, 2020

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ESL has revealed the groups and opening matchups for the upcoming ESL One Cologne 2020.

Groups are now live for all four of ESL One Cologne’s regions, as well the early round matchups for each of the tournament’s group stages. Cologne’s European division is split into two groups of eight teams, with each group playing four matches on opening day on August 18. This will come alongside North America’s two groups of four teams each.

The matchups for the first round of ????????#ESLOne Cologne are looking INTENSE ????

You can’t miss these games, mark your calendar! ???? pic.twitter.com/fUZPEGnywB

— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) August 7, 2020

ESL releases groups and matchups for August’s ESL One Cologne regions

European Groups and Matchups

Group A

BIG
Complexity
Natus Vincere
Ninjas in Pyjamas
OG
mousesports
MAD Lions
Sprout

Group B

Vitality
G2
FaZe
fnatic
Astralis
Heroic
MIBR
Team Heretics

Tuesday, August 18 (all times EST)

9:00 a.m.: IG vs. Sprout
9:00 a.m.: OG vs. NiP
12:30 p.m.: Vitality vs. Heretics
12:30 p.m.: fnatic vs. Astralis

Wednesday, August 19 (all times EST)

9:00 a.m.: Natus Vincere vs. mousesports
9:00 a.m.: Complexity vs. MAD Lions
12:30 p.m.: FaZe vs. Heroic
12:30 p.m.: MIBR vs. G2

North American Groups and Matchups

With eight teams, North America’s groups are split into groups of four, with each group playing two official matches to kick off the tournament. The first day of play has set up a FURIA vs. Chaos Esports Club showdown, while Cloud9 vs. Team Liquid is the highlight of day two.

Group A

FURIA
Gen.G
100 Thieves
Chaos

Group B

Evil Geniuses
Team Liquid
Cloud9
Triumph

Tuesday, August 18 (all times EST)

4:00 p.m.: FURIA vs. Chaos
4:00 p.m.: 100 Thieves vs. Gen.G

Wednesday, August 19 (all times EST)

4:00 p.m.: Evil Geniuses vs. Triumph
4:00 p.m.: Cloud9 vs. Team Liquid

Asia and Oceania Groups and Matchups

The Asian and Oceania regions will play in a shared tournament, with two groups of four teams. The top two teams from each group will move forward to the playoffs.

Asia

TYLOO
ViCi Gaming
Invictus Gaming
Beyond

Oceania

Renegades
ORDER
AVANT
Chiefs

Tuesday, August 25 (all times EST)

2:00 a.m.: Australia Renegades vs. Australia Chiefs
5:30 a.m.: China TYLOO vs. Thailand Beyond

Wednesday, August 26 (all times EST)

2:00 a.m.: Australia ORDER vs. Australia AVANT
5:30 a.m.: China ViCi vs. China Invictus

ESL Cologne features the four regions competing for their share of the tournament’s $500,000 grand prize, split between the four competing regions. Competition in both European and North American groups begins on August 18, while the group stage for Asia and Oceania starts a week later on Tuesday, August 25.