The IEM Kraków 2026 quarter-final between G2 Esports and MOUZ ended in a clean but far from easy 2–0 victory for MOUZ. Despite the absence of a third map, the series was tense throughout: both maps were decided within one or two key rounds, where MOUZ’s consistency and composure ultimately made the difference.
Road to the matchup — different paths, one point of intersection
The two teams arrived at the quarter-final with fundamentally different backgrounds. G2 made it through the group stage without collapses, but also without true dominance: wins over FUT (2–1) and The MongolZ (2–0) were offset by a loss to Spirit (1–2), once again highlighting their issues with consistency against well-structured top teams. Their run looked competitive, but lacked a sense of control over series.
MOUZ, on the other hand, approached the tournament in a highly pragmatic manner. Victories over NRG (2–0), FaZe (2–0), and Falcons (2–0) underlined the core trait of this roster — they make very few mistakes against teams at or below their level. No hype, no breakdowns, just clean execution and repeatable results that once again carried them deep into a major LAN.
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Overpass — 16:13
MOUZ’s map pick fully paid off. G2 stayed in the game until the very end, repeatedly equalizing the score and forcing their opponents to play cautiously. However, in the decisive rounds MOUZ read G2’s movements better, and a handful of won clutches ultimately tilted the map in their favor.
Dust2 — 13:7
On G2’s pick, the fight lasted only until the middle of the map. MOUZ quickly adapted to their opponent’s pace, shutting down space for aggression and forcing G2 into frequent force buys. Strong economic control and confident defensive play allowed MOUZ to close out the series without unnecessary risks.
Player statistics for the match
Player of the match — Lotan “Spinx” Giladi
Spinx was the key figure of the series, providing MOUZ with stability in the most difficult moments:
- 40–25 K-D
- 94.8 ADR
- 77.6% KAST
- 1.43 rating
His confident opening duels and positional control in late rounds repeatedly disrupted G2’s attempts to claw their way back into the game.
VRS impact — upward movement for MOUZ
The win earned MOUZ +25 VRS points, strengthening their position in the rankings and pushing them another step up the tournament hierarchy. G2, meanwhile, lost -7 points, once again underlining how costly playoff defeats can be.
dusT reaction — consistency as MOUZ’s main currency
After the match, analyst Dustin “dusT” Mouret summed up MOUZ’s performance calmly but precisely, defining their role in the current competitive hierarchy:
MOUZ again showing why they’re still a Top 5 squad despite some limitations. They take care of business against teams ranked at or below their level consistently, and they almost always make the semi-finals.
This assessment perfectly captures the essence of MOUZ’s win over G2. They did not look flawless, but once again did what they do best — closed out the series calmly, without allowing chaos to break their structure. The question that remains open, as dusT puts it directly, is whether this consistency can finally translate into trophies rather than yet another semi-final appearance.
What’s next?
MOUZ advance to the IEM Kraków 2026 semi-finals, reaffirming their status as one of the most stable teams at the tournament. For G2, this elimination serves as another signal: the roster’s potential is evident, but against teams with clear structure and discipline, it is still not enough. IEM Kraków 2026 once again proves — in the playoffs, it’s not the loudest teams that survive, but those who make the fewest mistakes when it matters most.
