IEM Kraków 2026 Stage 1 starts with the clash between Liquid and Ninjas in Pyjamas. Two teams open the tournament in a double elimination format, where every match in the upper bracket has enormous strategic importance. The winner gets a comfortable position in the bracket, while a loss immediately forces the team to play under pressure in the lower bracket with no room for error.
This match has fundamental importance: Liquid come in as the more stable and well-coordinated roster, while Ninjas in Pyjamas get a chance to prove that their updated lineup is capable of challenging teams with higher rankings and deeper, more structured map control.
IEM KRAKÓW 2026 STAGE 1 — THE START OF THE LAN JOURNEY
IEM Kraków 2026 Stage 1 is held in a LAN format with 16 teams and a double elimination system. All matches are played in a Bo3 format, where stability, psychological endurance, and adaptation during the series are just as important as raw firepower.
There are no easy opponents here: every series is a test of readiness for the big stage. For Liquid and Ninjas in Pyjamas, this is a chance to immediately declare their ambitions and secure a place in the upper part of the bracket.
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HEAD-TO-HEAD — STRUCTURE VERSUS AGGRESSIVE DECISION MAKING
Liquid and NiP already have a history of matchups that shows a fairly balanced power dynamic. Liquid more often win thanks to stronger economic play, stable rotations, and tempo control, while Ninjas in Pyjamas try to take their chances through active pushes and aggressive mid-round pivots.
This is a confrontation between two approaches: methodical, systematic play versus attempts to impose a chaotic tempo and force the opponent into mistakes.
CURRENT FORM
Liquid — stability and tempo control
Liquid look like the more composed team. They rarely fail in economic phases, work well with positional defense, and know how to close out series without unnecessary risks. EliGE and NertZ provide the required firepower, while cadiaN adds discipline to decision-making. In a Bo3 format, Liquid often win not through domination, but by gradually exhausting their opponents.
Ninjas in Pyjamas — inconsistency, but high individual upside
NiP are in a phase of searching for stability. The team has strong shooters, but their structure often collapses under pressure. They can win maps through aggression and clutch moments, however in long Bo3 series they struggle to maintain focus and economic control.
MAP POOL & VETO
Statistics for the last 3 months (Liquid | Ninjas in Pyjamas):
- Dust2: — | —
- Mirage: 62% | —
- Inferno: 40% | —
- Nuke: 60% | 67%
- Overpass: — | 67%
- Ancient: 75% | 50%
- Anubis: — | —
Expected veto:
- Liquid will almost certainly remove Overpass, a map where NiP look much more confident and feel comfortable in an aggressive style.
- Ninjas in Pyjamas are very likely to ban Ancient, one of Liquid’s strongest maps, where they have better structure and zone control.
Likely picks:
- Liquid: Mirage — a map where they can dictate the tempo and control the economy more effectively.
- Ninjas in Pyjamas: Nuke — a comfortable choice for structured play and controlling defensive rounds.
Decider: Inferno looks like the most logical deciding map. It is exactly here that Liquid can gain an advantage thanks to better reading of rotations and discipline in late-round situations.
KEY DUELS
- EliGE vs REZ — experience and stability versus explosive mechanics
- NertZ vs xKacpersky — control of key zones in the middle of the map
- cadiaN vs Snappi — a duel of captaincy decisions and timing
In a Bo3, these micro-duels often determine who breaks the opponent’s economy first.
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PREDICTION
Ninjas in Pyjamas are capable of creating problems through aggression and individual plays, but Liquid look far more stable in game structure, map pool depth, and control of the series tempo. In a Bo3 format, this usually becomes the decisive advantage.
Predicted score: Liquid 2–1 Ninjas in Pyjamas
