Organizer
Tournament edition
ESL One Cologne 2015
The sixth Valve-supported Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major brought 16 teams to group stages at MMC Studios Cologne and playoffs at LANXESS Arena. Fnatic won the tournament.
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Updated October 23, 2026Competition snapshot
Host and dates
MMC Studios Cologne (group stage); LANXESS Arena (playoffs), Cologne, Germany · Aug 20–23, 2015[2][3]
Champion
Combined prize pool
Games
Participant scale
CategoryPartnerCommercial note
Category
Organizer
Partner
ESLCommercial note
League and tournament organizer in 2015 · Recorded in the 2015 edition.[2]
Category
Official Partner
Partner
Valve CorporationCommercial note
Counter-Strike publisher and Major event support · Recorded in the 2015 edition.[2]
Category
Sponsor
Partner
IntelCommercial note
Event sponsor · Recorded in the 2015 edition.[1]
Category
Sponsor
Partner
ASUSCommercial note
Event sponsor · Recorded in the 2015 edition.[1]
Category
Sponsor
Partner
paysafecardCommercial note
Event sponsor · Recorded in the 2015 edition.[1]
Category
Sponsor
Partner
NVIDIACommercial note
Event sponsor · Recorded in the 2015 edition.[1]
Category
Sponsor
Partner
HyperXCommercial note
Event sponsor · Recorded in the 2015 edition.[1]
Category
Sponsor
Partner
theScore esportsCommercial note
Event sponsor · Recorded in the 2015 edition.[1]
Category
Sponsor
Partner
TwitchCommercial note
Event sponsor · Recorded in the 2015 edition.[1]
Category
Sponsor
Partner
gamed!deCommercial note
Event sponsor · Recorded in the 2015 edition.[1]
Category
Sponsor
Partner
NEEDforSEATCommercial note
Event sponsor · Recorded in the 2015 edition.[1]
PTG Database Analysis
ESL One Cologne 2015 was the sixth Valve-supported CS:GO Major, held from August 20–23. The event began with its group stage at MMC Studios Cologne before the playoffs moved to LANXESS Arena. ESL’s guide names 16 teams: eight Legends returning from Katowice and eight Challengers who qualified.[2][3][4]
On the first day, four groups of four used best-of-one matches; the group draw was reset on day two to avoid rematches. The eight playoff teams then played best-of-three matches in front of a live audience. Fnatic defeated Team EnVyUs in the final to win the event.[3][6]
Liquipedia lists nine event sponsors: Intel, ASUS, paysafecard, NVIDIA, HyperX, theScore esports, Twitch, gamed!de and NEEDforSEAT. Valve’s official announcement confirms publisher support for the Major. The available sources do not set out individual activation terms or deal values.[1][2]
References7
- [1]ESL One: Cologne 2015 — Liquipedia Counter-Strike Wiki
- [2]ESL One Cologne 2015 now officially a Valve Major! — ESL
- [3]The ESL One Cologne 2015 survival guide — ESL
- [4]CS:GO's sixth consecutive $250k Major returns to Cologne — Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
- [5]ESL One Cologne 2015 overview — HLTV.org
- [6]The ESL One Cologne 2015 champions have been crowned! — ESL
- [7]ESL One Cologne 2015 image reuse audit — ESL and Wikimedia Commons
Commercial opportunities
Event sponsors
Intel, ASUS, paysafecard, NVIDIA, HyperX, theScore esports, Twitch, gamed!de and NEEDforSEAT are listed as sponsors.[1]
Publisher support
Valve supported the event as a Counter-Strike Major publisher.[2][4]
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