Lower-bracket final of Group B at IEM Kraków 2026 delivered exactly what was expected on paper — and even more in practice. MOUZ knocked Falcons out of the tournament with a hard-fought 2–0 victory, but the scoreline hardly reflects how close and exhausting this series actually was. Both maps went deep, featured multiple momentum swings, and demanded composure in late-round situations and overtimes.
Road to the matchup — pressure versus pedigree
Falcons entered the lower-bracket final carrying both pedigree and expectation. With NiKo, m0NESY, and a lineup built to win titles, anything short of a deep playoff run would be viewed as a failure. However, their path through Kraków had already exposed issues in closing tight maps and maintaining structure once games slowed down.
MOUZ, on the other hand, arrived battle-tested. Their tournament run had been defined by survival, adaptation, and confidence in late rounds. With Spinx and xertioN consistently stepping up, MOUZ looked like a team comfortable living on the edge — and thriving there.
Inferno — 16:14
MOUZ opened the series on their own pick and immediately set the tone. Inferno was slow, tactical, and tense from the first gun round. Falcons repeatedly found openings through individual plays, but struggled to convert advantages into clean round wins.
As the map stretched into overtime, MOUZ’s structure proved decisive. Better utility usage and calmer late-round decisions allowed them to edge out Falcons 16:14, stealing the opener and putting immediate pressure on the tournament favorites.
Dust2 — 19:17
Dust2 turned into the defining map of the series. Falcons looked more comfortable early, leaning into raw aim and aggressive mid control, while MOUZ focused on trading and spacing rather than forcing duels.
The map spiraled into extended overtime, with both teams trading blows round for round. Falcons had multiple chances to close, but MOUZ refused to crack. Key multikills from Spinx and disciplined holds on the CT side eventually swung the map 19:17 in MOUZ’s favor, sealing the 2–0 sweep and ending Falcons’ run in Kraków.
Player statistics for the match
Player of the match — kyousuke
Despite Falcons’ elimination, kyousuke delivered the strongest individual performance of the series, providing consistent impact across both maps and keeping his team competitive deep into the game:
- 50–47 K-D
- 73.2 ADR
- 69.7% KAST
- 1.19 rating
His aggressive opening duels and confident presence in extended overtime rounds repeatedly gave Falcons opportunities to swing momentum, even as the series slipped away. On the MOUZ side, Spinx and xertioN proved decisive in high-pressure situations, closing crucial clutches and locking down key positions when it mattered most.
VRS impact
The result carried tangible ranking consequences.
- MOUZ gained +58 VRS points, strengthening their top-tier position and pushing further toward playoff security.
- Falcons dropped −14 VRS points, a painful setback for a roster built to contend for trophies rather than exit in the lower bracket.
What it means
MOUZ advance to the quarter-finals, reinforcing their reputation as one of the most resilient teams on LAN — a roster that thrives when margins are thin and pressure is at its highest. Falcons exit IEM Kraków 2026 earlier than expected, once again left to reflect on missed chances and unanswered questions about consistency in decisive moments. In a series defined by overtimes, nerves, and razor-thin margins, MOUZ proved that cohesion and composure can still outlast raw star power.
