IEM Kraków 2026 Stage 1 kicks off with a clash between Aurora and GamerLegion. Two teams open the tournament in a double elimination format, where every upper bracket match carries massive strategic importance. The winner secures a comfortable position in the bracket, while a loss immediately forces a team into the lower bracket, where there is no room for mistakes.
This match has fundamental weight: Aurora enter as the more prestigious roster with a star-studded lineup and ambitions for a deep run, while GamerLegion get the chance to prove that their team structure and discipline can break even lineups that look stronger on paper.
IEM KRAKÓW 2026 STAGE 1 — THE START OF THE LAN JOURNEY
IEM Kraków 2026 Stage 1 is played in a LAN format with 16 teams and a double elimination system. All matches are Bo3, where consistency and endurance become just as important as raw firepower.
There are no easy opponents here: every series is a test of readiness for the big stage. For both Aurora and GamerLegion, this is a chance to immediately set the tone for the entire tournament and gain an early psychological advantage.
read more
HEAD-TO-HEAD — EXPERIENCE VERSUS SYSTEM
Aurora and GamerLegion already have a history of encounters, and it shows a fairly even battle. Aurora tend to win through individual class and aggressive decisions, while GamerLegion compensate with structure, game reading, and discipline in late rounds. This is a clash of two philosophies: explosive mechanics versus systematic control.
CURRENT FORM
Aurora — a stable top team focused on firepower
Aurora are in strong competitive shape. They show powerful firepower, aggressive map control, and strong early-round execution. XANTARES and woxic set the pace, while Wicadia adds stability in key rounds. In Bo3 series, Aurora look especially dangerous when they can impose their own rhythm and play through pressure.
GamerLegion — discipline and team logic
GamerLegion build their game around clear structure, zone control, and patient economic play. They rarely win through pure individual dominance, but they consistently punish opponents’ mistakes. In Bo3 series, this often allows them to come back even after losing a map.
MAP POOL & VETO
Statistics for the last 3 months (Aurora | GamerLegion):
- Dust2: 83% | 14%
- Mirage: 43% | 100%
- Inferno: 0% | 64%
- Nuke: 60% | 67%
- Overpass: 75% | 60%
- Ancient: — | 25%
- Anubis: — | —
Expected veto:
- Aurora will almost certainly remove Mirage, a map where GamerLegion show a perfect win rate and maximum confidence in positional play.
- GamerLegion are very likely to ban Dust2, one of Aurora’s strongest maps, where their aggression and AWP control become decisive.
Likely picks:
- Aurora: Overpass — a map where they successfully combine aggression with tempo control and mid-round management.
- GamerLegion: Inferno — a strong platform for their structured style and rotation reading.
Decider: Nuke looks like the most logical candidate for the deciding map. Both teams feel comfortable there, but Aurora may have an edge thanks to superior individual execution in critical clutch situations.
KEY DUELS
- XANTARES vs REZ — raw mechanics versus stable positional control
- woxic vs PR — an AWP duel that can decide control of open areas
- Wicadia vs Snax — youth and aggression versus experience and timing
In Bo3 series, these micro-duels often decide who wins the economic rounds and breaks the flow of the series.
read more
PREDICTION
GamerLegion have all the tools to force a competitive series through structure and discipline, but Aurora look stronger in overall player quality, map pool flexibility, and their ability to close rounds through individual moments. In a Bo3 format, this usually becomes the decisive advantage.
Predicted score: Aurora 2–1 GamerLegion
