French superstar Mathieu ZywOo Herbaut has officially been named HLTV Most Valuable Player of IEM Kraków 2026, playing a decisive role in Team Vitality’s championship run at the inaugural Polish edition of the event. As a result, ZywOo secured his 29th MVP medal overall and his first of the 2026 season, immediately setting the tone for the year ahead.
A record-breaking Big Event performance
At IEM Kraków, ZywOo posted a 1.59 rating, which stands as the highest Big Event rating of his career. It narrowly surpassed his previous peak from ESL Pro League Season 19 in 2024. While the margin was minimal, the impact was anything but.
Throughout the tournament, ZywOo dominated across every key metric. He averaged 1.26 kills per round, delivered a +6.17% round swing, and recorded multi-kills in 29.3% of rounds. In addition, his median map rating reached 1.67, highlighting his consistency rather than isolated peaks.
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Dominance from group stage to grand final
Equally important, ZywOo’s influence never faded as the pressure increased. He topped the scoreboard on 58% of the maps he played, a remarkable number for a full-length LAN event. Moreover, he raised his level in the decisive stages.
In the playoffs, ZywOo maintained a 1.67 rating, before closing the tournament with a 1.66 rating in the grand final. Ultimately, his ability to control rounds, win clutches, and dictate tempo defined Vitality’s title run.
At the same time, this MVP secured back-to-back winter IEM MVPs for the Frenchman, following his triumph at IEM Katowice 2025. It also builds directly on his historic 2025 season, which ended with a HLTV Player of the Year award.
Top 10 players of IEM Kraków 2026 by HLTV rating
- 1. ZywOo (Vitality) — 1.59
The clear and undisputed MVP of the tournament. His consistency, impact, and composure in decisive moments made IEM Kraków one of the strongest LAN performances of his career.
- 2. donk (Spirit) — 1.38
Meanwhile, donk was the primary driving force behind Spirit’s deep run. His aggressive rifling and opening duel success consistently created advantages, even against elite opposition.
- 3. (3DMAX) — 1.30
One of the biggest revelations of the tournament. Graviti exceeded expectations with steady high-impact performances and became the face of 3DMAX’s breakout showing on a major stage.
- 4. sh1ro (Spirit) — 1.28
In contrast to donk’s explosiveness, sh1ro provided calm structure and reliability. His clutch play and disciplined AWPing repeatedly kept Spirit competitive in tight series.
- 5. kyousuke (Falcons) — 1.25
For Falcons, kyousuke stood out as a key playmaker. He combined initiative with efficiency, often stepping up in high-pressure rounds when his team needed stability.
- 6. flameZ (Vitality) — 1.23
At the same time, flameZ played a crucial supporting role for Vitality. His entry work, space creation, and consistency perfectly complemented ZywOo’s star performances.
- 7. m0NESY (Falcons) — 1.21
Although Falcons struggled with consistency, m0NESY remained a constant individual threat. His mechanical skill and AWP highlights frequently kept his team competitive.
- 8. 910 (The MongolZ) — 1.16
Another notable surprise came from 910. Representing The MongolZ, he delivered a confident and mature performance, proving capable on the biggest LAN stage.
- 9. KSCERATO (FURIA) — 1.15
Once again, KSCERATO served as FURIA’s most reliable player. Even in difficult matches, he maintained a high level and provided stability for the Brazilian side.
- 10. zweih (PARIVISION) — 1.14
Finally, zweih rounded out the top ten with disciplined and consistent play. His reliability was a key factor in PARIVISION remaining competitive throughout the event.
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ZywOo sets the tone for the 2026 season
Ultimately, IEM Kraków 2026 will be remembered as a tournament defined by ZywOo’s individual supremacy. At the same time, the top-10 list showcased the growing depth of elite CS2 talent. The sizeable gap between first and second place only underlines the scale of ZywOo’s performance — and early signs suggest that 2026 could become yet another historic year for the French superstar.
