IEM Rio 2026 delivered another intense day in the group stage, as FURIA secured a hard-fought 2–1 victory over NAVI, while B8 eliminated Passion UA with a confident 2–0 sweep. Both series played a key role in shaping the lower bracket and the race for playoff spots.
Road to the playoffs: momentum vs missed chances
FURIA continue to build momentum at the perfect time in the tournament:
- 2–0 vs Passion UA
- 2–1 vs NAVI
They are starting to look increasingly confident in high-pressure series.
NAVI, meanwhile, once again showed their main issue — inconsistency. After a dominant opening map, they failed to adapt and lost control of the series, dropping to the lower bracket with little margin for error.
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FURIA 2–1 NAVI: comeback after a rough start
The series between NAVI and FURIA turned into a classic momentum swing.
Mirage (NAVI pick) — 13:3 NAVI
NAVI came out flying, dominating the map with a near-perfect CT side. Their defensive setups shut down FURIA completely, giving no space for executes or mid-round adaptations.
Dust2 (FURIA pick) — 13:4 FURIA
FURIA answered instantly. Their aggressive T side and fast-paced entries overwhelmed NAVI, exposing major gaps in rotations and individual positioning.
Nuke (decider) — 16:13 FURIA
The decider delivered the most drama. NAVI had multiple chances to close it out, but struggled heavily on the CT side and in late-round situations. FURIA stayed composed in the key moments and edged out the win.
Player of the Match — yuurih (FURIA)
Yuri “yuurih” Santos led the comeback with a consistent performance across all three maps:
- 1.26 rating
- 77.6 ADR
- 79.0% KAST
His impact in mid-round fights and clutch situations proved decisive, especially on Nuke.
VRS impact
- FURIA: +33 points → rise to #6
- NAVI: −19 points → lose ground in the standings
B8 2–0 Passion UA: full control from start to finish
In the lower bracket, B8 delivered one of the cleanest series of the day.
Overpass — 13:9
B8 controlled the pace early and never allowed Passion UA to fully stabilize, closing out key rounds when it mattered most.
Mirage — 13:3
A complete blowout. B8 dominated both halves, punishing every mistake and snowballing the map with confidence.
Player of the Match — s1zzi (B8)
Daniil “s1zzi” Vinnyk was the standout performer:
- 1.58 rating
- 92.5 ADR
- 86.8% KAST
He consistently opened rounds and maintained pressure, making it extremely difficult for Passion UA to respond.
Road to survival: B8 stay alive, Passion UA exit
B8 keep their tournament run alive and move forward in the lower bracket, showing clear improvement after earlier struggles.
For Passion UA, this loss marks the end of their IEM Rio 2026 campaign. Despite some competitive moments earlier in the event, they were outmatched in this elimination series.
VRS impact
- B8: +12 points → strengthen position around #16
- Passion UA: −5 points → continue to drop in rankings
Community reactions
FURIA celebrated the result with confidence:
A SUA @FURIA ESTÁ NOS PLAYOFFS DO #IEM RIO 2026
NAVI were direct in their assessment:
A total disaster on the CT side… we drop Nuke and head to the lower bracket.
B8 stayed focused on what’s next:
Tomorrow we play the lower bracket semi-final.
Passion UA reacted emotionally:
GGs — out of IEM Rio
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What’s next
FURIA move closer to securing a playoff spot with growing confidence, while NAVI must now fight through the lower bracket to stay alive. At the same time, B8 continue their run, and Passion UA exit the tournament after a tough elimination series.
