Natus Vincere secured a crucial 2–1 victory over Aurora in the lower bracket final of Group B at IEM Rio 2026, booking their place in the playoffs and ending Aurora’s run at the event. The series delivered a confident bounce-back from NAVI after earlier struggles, while Aurora failed to convert their chances in a high-pressure elimination match.
Road through the group stage
NAVI’s path in Rio has been far from smooth, but they managed to recover when it mattered most. After a mixed start in the group stage, including a tough loss to FURIA, the team stabilized in the lower bracket and delivered when facing elimination. The win over Aurora now secures them a playoff spot and gives them momentum heading into the arena stage.
Aurora, on the other hand, showed flashes of strong form throughout the group. They picked up convincing wins earlier in the tournament but struggled to maintain consistency against top-tier opponents. Losses to teams like MOUZ and now NAVI ultimately ended their run just short of the playoffs.
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Confident recovery from NAVI
The series began on Inferno, Aurora’s pick, but NAVI immediately took control. Strong T-side execution and structured mid-round calls allowed them to close the map 13–4 without giving Aurora much room to respond.
Aurora answered back on Mirage, where their individuals stepped up in key rounds. Despite NAVI keeping it close, Aurora managed to edge out the map 13–11, forcing a decider.
On Dust2, however, NAVI fully shut the door. A dominant performance on both sides of the map saw them cruise to a 13–4 victory, sealing the series 2–1 in convincing fashion.
Player of the match: makazze leads the charge
The standout performer of the series was Drin “makazze” Shaqiri, who delivered one of his most complete performances of the tournament. Across three maps, he posted:
- 50–38 K-D
- 89.3 ADR
- 1.47 rating
His impact was especially visible on Dust2, where he consistently opened rounds and denied Aurora any chance to stabilize. This performance played a key role in NAVI’s qualification for the playoffs.
VRS impact
The result also affected the Valve Regional Standings:
- NAVI gain +3 points, strengthening their already strong position near the top
- Aurora lose -26 points, taking a significant hit after the elimination
For NAVI, this win further solidifies their status in the global ranking race, while Aurora will need strong results in upcoming events to recover.
Team reactions
The emotional contrast between the teams was clear after the match. NAVI players celebrated qualification, with Valeriy “b1t” Vakhovskiy posting:
Long time no see Rio! Qualified to playoff… Thanks for support!
Aurora, meanwhile, acknowledged their elimination:
We’re out of IEM Rio 2026… after the defeat against NAVI.
The loss marks the end of Aurora’s campaign, while NAVI move forward with renewed confidence.
What’s next
With this victory, NAVI advance to the playoffs of IEM Rio 2026, where the level of competition rises significantly. Their ability to recover under pressure will be tested against the tournament’s top contenders. Aurora exit the event, but their overall performance suggests potential — if they can address consistency issues, they remain a dangerous team heading into future events.
