Natus Vincere opened their PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 campaign with a controlled 2–0 victory over Astralis in the first Swiss round, asserting dominance on both Nuke and Mirage. The Ukrainian squad looked composed throughout the series, capitalizing on strong individual form and cleaner mid-round structure to avoid any real late-map pressure.
Nuke — NAVI withstand the pressure (13:10)
Astralis’ pick delivered a competitive opener. The Danish side found early momentum on the T side, with stavn and Staehr creating openings through yard pressure and upper executes. However, NAVI’s defensive adjustments — particularly improved rotations between A and ramp — slowly stabilized the map.
In the closing stretch, iM and w0nderful took over key duels, denying Astralis crucial equalizers and locking Nuke at 13–10. While not flawless, NAVI’s composure in late rounds proved decisive.
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Mirage — total control (13:6)
On their own pick, NAVI shifted into a higher gear. Their T side executions were cleaner, spacing more disciplined, and trading far more efficient. Astralis struggled to hold mid control, repeatedly giving up space that NAVI converted into well-structured site hits.
After halftime, the map quickly slipped away from Astralis. iM dominated opening engagements, while b1t and Aleksib ensured no economic comeback was possible. Mirage closed 13–6 without late-round drama.
Player statistics for the match
Player of the match — Mihai “iM” Ivan
The Romanian rifler was the standout performer across both maps:
- 41–24 K-D
- 99.5 ADR
- 81.0% KAST
- 1.63 rating
His impact was particularly visible on Mirage, where he repeatedly found multi-kill entries that broke Astralis’ defensive setups.
Team performance — structure returns
NAVI looked noticeably more stable compared to recent shaky outings. Their mid-round decision-making was sharper, spacing improved, and they avoided the overextensions that have cost them in previous events. Astralis, meanwhile, showed flashes of promise on Nuke but lacked consistency. Once Mirage slipped out of control, their executes became predictable and individual impact dropped significantly.
VRS impact — valuable early gain
The result carries important ranking implications:
- Natus Vincere: +48 VRS points
- Astralis: −5 VRS points
For NAVI, this is a significant early boost in the Swiss stage and a strong step in the broader ranking race. Astralis, on the other hand, miss an opportunity to climb and now face immediate pressure in the next round.
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What’s next?
NAVI move forward in the Swiss bracket with confidence restored. While this wasn’t a flawless performance, it was controlled, disciplined, and convincing — exactly the type of start needed in a Swiss format. Astralis must quickly regroup. The structure is there, but against top-tier opposition, small inefficiencies are punished — and in Cluj-Napoca, margins are already thin.
