The tournament road is getting shorter, and the cost of every mistake is at its maximum. At this stage, there is no room for experiments or slow starts: either you are ready for the final, or your season ends right now.
Tournament context
IEM Kraków 2026 is a ranked LAN tournament of the Intel Extreme Masters series that has a direct impact on the distribution of Valve Regional Standings (VRS) points. The playoffs are played in a single-elimination Bo3 format, where every match is do-or-die and a loss means immediate elimination from the tournament.
The semi-final between Vitality and MOUZ determined the first finalist of the event. For Vitality, it was a chance to confirm their status as the main favorite; for MOUZ, an opportunity to break the hierarchy and challenge for the title.
How the match unfolded — Vitality vs MOUZ
Series score: 2:0 in favor of Vitality
- Nuke (MOUZ pick) — 13:7
Vitality broke their opponent’s tempo from the opening rounds. They responded aggressively to MOUZ’s attempts to take control, consistently won opening duels, and prevented the economy from stabilizing. After the side switch, the French lineup quickly closed out the map, leaving no room for a comeback. - Dust2 (Vitality pick) — 13:6
On their own pick, Vitality looked even more convincing. Clear round structure, control of the center of the map, and constant pressure on key positions forced MOUZ to play reactively. The series ended without intrigue, with Vitality’s superiority evident in every aspect of the game.
Player of the Match — Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut (Vitality)
ZywOo was the main factor behind the domination in the semi-final.
- K–D: 40–19
- ADR: 103.8
- Rating 3.0: 1.68
Key impact: absolute control in duels, consistent influence in every phase of the round, and relentless pressure that shut down all of MOUZ’s attempts to get back into the game.
VRS results
- Vitality — +25 pt → 1961 pt. The team strengthens its position in the global top 2 and approaches the final with maximum rating momentum and confidence.
- MOUZ — –10 pt → 1878 pt. The semi-final loss means not only elimination from the tournament but also the loss of important points in the fight for seeding at future LAN events.
What’s next?
Vitality advance to the IEM Kraków 2026 Grand Final, where they will play for the championship title and the largest share of the prize pool.
MOUZ end their run at the tournament, stopping one step short of the final.
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Match summary
Vitality fully controlled the semi-final series and did not allow MOUZ to create even minimal intrigue. Two confident wins highlighted the difference in individual form, decision-making speed, and stability at the decisive stage of the tournament. This result logically sends Vitality to the IEM Kraków 2026 grand final, where they will look to cement their status as the dominant force of the event, while MOUZ leave Kraków without a chance at the trophy.
