FlyQuest eliminate THUNDER dOWNUNDER from IEM Cologne Major after one-sided Australian derby

FlyQuest kept their IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage 1 run alive by eliminating fellow Australian side THUNDER dOWNUNDER in a 2-0 series, winning Anubis 13-10 and Inferno 13-3 in the Swiss Round 4 elimination pool. The result moved FlyQuest to a 2-2 record, leaving them one best-of-three away from a place in Stage 2, while THUNDER dOWNUNDER exited the tournament at 1-3. 

The match carried extra weight because it was not only an elimination series, but also a direct regional clash. THUNDER dOWNUNDER had entered Cologne as one of the tournament’s biggest underdog stories. Their campaign began with a major upset over MIBR on Inferno, where Tyson “asap” Paterson topped the server with a 2.04 rating, sending the Australians into the 1-0 pool and immediately damaging many Pick’Em predictions. 

That opening momentum did not last. THUNDER dOWNUNDER narrowly lost 13-11 to B8 on Dust2 later on day one, then dropped into the elimination zone after a 13-7 defeat to BIG on Inferno.  By the time they met FlyQuest, the series had become a survival match: HLTV’s match page listed it as a best-of-three Swiss Round 4 clash between two 1-2 teams, with the loser eliminated. 

FlyQuest, meanwhile, had also endured a mixed Stage 1. They opened with a tight 16-14 win over SINNERS, then lost 13-11 to GamerLegion in Round 2 before falling into the 1-2 pool.  Against THUNDER dOWNUNDER, however, they produced their most convincing performance of the event so far.

The veto gave FlyQuest Anubis as their pick, while THUNDER dOWNUNDER selected Inferno; Dust2 was left over as the decider but never came into play.  Anubis was competitive for much of the map, but FlyQuest’s strong defensive stretches proved decisive. HLTV highlighted an eight-round run from FlyQuest at the start of their CT side, which helped them edge the opener 13-10. 

Inferno was far more brutal. THUNDER dOWNUNDER picked the map, but FlyQuest completely shut them down after the side switch, putting together a 12-0 CT half to close the series 13-3. That dominant second map turned the derby into a clear statement about which Australian core was better prepared for the pressure of Cologne.

Declan “Vexite” Portelli was FlyQuest’s standout performer across the series, finishing with 36 kills, 99.2 ADR and a 1.66 rating. Corey “nettik” Browne followed with a 1.49 rating, while Justin “jks” Savage also delivered strong numbers with 38 kills and a 1.38 rating. For THUNDER dOWNUNDER, asap and Alistair “aliStair” Johnston were the only players to finish above a 1.00 rating, while the team struggled heavily across the two maps. 

The broader context makes FlyQuest’s win even more important. Stage 1 of the Cologne Major uses a five-round Swiss format, with eight teams advancing to Stage 2. HLTV’s event preview confirmed that only progression and elimination matches are played as best-of-threes, meaning FlyQuest’s derby win came in one of the highest-pressure formats of the stage. 

For THUNDER dOWNUNDER, the exit ends a campaign that started with genuine promise. They proved they could compete by beating MIBR and pushing B8 close, but three straight losses to B8, BIG and FlyQuest left them out before the final round. FlyQuest, on the other hand, remain alive in the 2-2 pool and will play one more do-or-die series for a Stage 2 berth.