CS2 Fan Unboxes Insanely Rare Knife in IEM Cologne Crowd Live on Stream

The playoff stage of IEM Cologne is currently underway at the LANXESS arena, with a large audience in attendance. During a live stream in the midst of the event, a lucky fan unboxed a rare knife skin.

During the quarterfinal match between FaZe Clan and SAW at the Germany-based ESL tournament, the camera panned to the audience between rounds and captured a fan wearing a NAVI jersey proudly holding up his gaming PC for the camera.

The fan excitedly opened loot boxes in his CS2 account, and to the excitement of the crowd, he rolled a knife skin, specifically a Phase 4 Ursus Doppler.

BLESSED BY THE CATHEDRAL 🙏#IEM pic.twitter.com/roYWEgZHmS

— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) August 16, 2024

During the 2023 Paris Major, a fan imitated a similar stunt that was later revealed to be fake when viewers realized that the unboxing was pre-recorded and not live.

This time, the unboxing is legitimate. James Banks, host and interviewer for IEM Cologne, personally sought out the fan and verified that the knife was indeed in their account. The skin is not only an Ursus Doppler, but it is also Factory New, making it worth approximately $500 USD on the skin market. Its value could potentially be higher depending on factors such as float rate.

While not the most expensive CS knife ever obtained, it is still not something to dismiss.

Over the years, Counter-Strike esports events have been known for their rowdy crowds, often causing chaos and creating unforgettable moments. In 2023, a fan even brought a trumpet to one event and used it to lead the crowd in chants, while in 2022, there were reports of a fan allegedly spitting on a NAVI player during the IEM Rio CS:GO Major.

The 10th year of IEM Cologne has solidified its reputation as a legendary event, with the German tournament’s rich history adding to its prestige.

The playoff stage, which commenced on August 16, marked the first part of the event to have a large audience in attendance. The group and play-in stages, on the other hand, were held without spectators.

The upcoming final stage of the tournament will feature several CS2 teams with large fan bases, including G2 Esports, FaZe, NAVI, and Team Vitality, as they continue to compete for the coveted trophy.