IEM Cologne Major highlights top 5 rated players for MVP as donk leads the pack

Through three stages of the IEM Cologne Major 2026, one player has separated himself from the pack. donk, Team Spirit’s star rifler, sits atop the leaderboard with a 1.53 rating, making him the frontrunner for the tournament’s MVP award as the event heads into its playoff phase.

He’s not alone at the top, though. Vitality’s ZywOo is breathing down his neck at 1.51. The gap between first and second place is just 0.02.

The top 5 by the numbers

The full top five rated players through stages one through three reads like a who’s who of Counter-Strike 2 talent. donk leads at 1.53, followed by ZywOo at 1.51, sh1ro at 1.34, HeavyGod at 1.33, and molodoy at 1.32.

For context, HLTV ratings are calculated using a combination of kill-to-death ratios, impact kills, and round contributions. A rating of 1.00 is considered average.

The drop-off to third place is significant. sh1ro, donk’s teammate on Spirit, sits at 1.34, which is still nearly two-tenths behind the top two. HeavyGod rounds out the top four at 1.33, while FURIA’s molodoy closes the list at 1.32.

donk’s consistency is the real story

Here’s the thing about donk’s performance: it’s not a fluke. During the 2025 edition of the Cologne event, he posted a 1.50 rating. Now he’s at 1.53.

With sh1ro also appearing in the top five, Spirit boasts two of the five highest-rated players in the tournament.

ZywOo continues to perform for Vitality, the defending champions, at 1.51 through the group stages.

What the playoffs could change

The IEM Cologne Major 2026 features 32 teams competing across venues in Cologne, Germany, including the Palladium and the Lanxess Arena. The tournament runs through June 2026, with the playoff phase representing the final portion of the event.

Spirit and Vitality sit alongside NaVi and Falcons as the recognized top seeds in the tournament, which means the two leading MVP candidates are also on teams most likely to reach the later rounds.

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