Ismailcan “XANTARES” Dörtkardeş, one of the most mechanically gifted players in competitive Counter-Strike, has been spotted warming up on the IEM Cologne Major stage. The Turkish star, competing under the Aurora Gaming banner, is gearing up for what promises to be one of the most consequential tournaments of the year.
Aurora Gaming and the road through Stage 3
Aurora Gaming enters the IEM Cologne Major 2026 at Stage 3, which features Best-of-Three match formats in its later rounds.
The Aurora roster is far from a one-man show, though. Alongside XANTARES, the team fields MAJ3R, woxic, soulfly, and Wicadia, with Fabre serving as coach.
But XANTARES remains the gravitational center. Video coverage from ESL has specifically highlighted his warm-up routines, offering a glimpse into the preparation habits that fuel his performance.
