IEM Kraków 2026 concluded with a dominant victory by Vitality, but beyond the grand final, the tournament offered a much broader picture — unexpected breakthroughs, painful early exits, and answers to questions the scene had been asking for months. Kraków became a true test not only for the favorites, but also for teams trying to establish themselves among the elite.
Strong Starts, But Not Enough to Go the Distance
PARIVISION, NRG, and BC.Game share a common storyline: all three successfully passed the first stage and looked convincing, only to be eliminated almost immediately in the main phase.
BC.Game stood out in particular. A team assembled just a few weeks before the tournament showcased surprisingly structured Counter-Strike. Special mention goes to s1mple — his individual form was competitive, aggressive, and consistent, with no signs of a “one-off tournament experiment.” This wasn’t a brief flash, but a signal: this roster is still capable of surprising the scene in the future.
NRG continue their gradual revival. Yes, this was not a playoff breakthrough, but the team no longer looks like a lineup destined to exit at the first hurdle. Structure is emerging, confidence in key rounds is growing, and there is a clear sense that the project is moving in the right direction again.
PARIVISION, however, remain the most controversial case among the three. After their previous unexpected triumphs, expectations were significantly higher — not just reaching the main stage, but competing for a playoff spot. Instead, an early exit reignited a fair question: were those past successes merely isolated flashes? In top-tier CS, dominance must be proven over time, not through rare, eye-catching runs.
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The MongolZ — A Painful Disappointment Despite Solid Performances
The MongolZ became one of the biggest disappointments of the tournament. Starting directly in the main stage, they were eliminated immediately. For a team of this caliber, the outcome was especially bitter.
The irony is that their level of play was far from poor: overtime games, a three-map series against FURIA, and fights that went down to the final rounds. The issue wasn’t form — it was results. The seeding placed them against direct competitors like G2 and FURIA, and they failed to clear that hurdle. The message is clear: to remain among the top teams, you need to beat your rivals, not just lose to them competitively.
FUT — An Unexpected and Welcome Surprise
FUT emerged as one of the most positive surprises of IEM Kraków 2026. On paper, a 9–12th place finish doesn’t sound impressive, but context changes everything.
They took maps off Astralis and G2, and their victory over FURIA — the eventual finalists — was a genuine statement. Karabeni deserves special praise, as his presence clearly elevated FUT’s game, adding stability and confidence in decisive moments.
FUT now look like a potential dark horse of the season. The key question remains: can they build on this success, or was it a one-time run? The answer will come soon enough.
NAVI, FaZe, and 3DMAX — Disappointments for Different Reasons
Natus Vincere, FaZe, and 3DMAX perfectly illustrate how the same result can be interpreted very differently. For 3DMAX, a 9–12th place finish is a setback, but not a disaster. For FaZe — finalists of the most recent Major — and for NAVI, however, it is a serious warning sign. Whether it’s issues in clutch situations or problems with tactical adaptation, the overall conclusion is obvious: if a team cannot consistently compete with the top 15 of the scene, its place among the elite becomes debatable.
Astralis and Aurora — Encouraging Signs After Recent Transfers
Astralis and Aurora deserve separate recognition. Both teams pleasantly surprised following recent roster changes. Aurora, in particular, took a difficult path, securing wins over Falcons and MOUZ before falling to Vitality and FURIA. They are not title contenders yet, but they already look like a stable main-stage team and a potential playoff challenger in the near future.
Falcons and G2 — Neither a Failure nor a Success
Falcons and G2 landed somewhere in the middle. Calling their runs outright disappointments would be unfair, but there is little reason for praise either.
Falcons once again failed to meet inflated expectations. After the arrivals of m0NESY and kyousuke, fans anticipated dominance, but there are still no signs of a “Falcons era” on the horizon. G2 appear slightly more stable, but their early playoff exit against MOUZ clearly highlights their current ceiling — a playoff team, yes, but far from a favorite.
MOUZ and Spirit — Expected Results, With Caveats
MOUZ and Spirit largely lived up to expectations. Spirit delivered a dominant tournament with their trademark aggressive style and another strong performance from donk. However, they were stopped in the semifinals by a mature, well-structured FURIA. MOUZ, on the other hand, left behind a sense of concern. Their losses in the semifinals and the third-place match looked unconvincing. One can only hope this is a temporary dip and that the composed, disciplined version of MOUZ will return at the next tournament.
FURIA and Vitality — A Surprise and Pure Domination
FURIA’s path was anything but smooth. An early loss to FUT was a shock, but the team regrouped and reached the final. The blend of young talent with FalleN’s experience is clearly paying off: fresh blood drives the team forward, while tactical leadership keeps everything balanced. Losing the final was not a failure, but another step forward.
Vitality, meanwhile, were the undisputed heroes of the tournament. Total domination, just one map dropped throughout the event, another MVP for ZywOo with a staggering 1.59 rating, and flameZ finishing among the top 10 players. The French powerhouse didn’t just win IEM Kraków — they made a public statement about their ambitions to dominate the 2026 season.
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Kraków Draws the Line: Who Is Ready for the Top — and Who Isn’t
IEM Kraków 2026 proved once again that the scene is constantly evolving. Some teams reaffirmed their status, others are only beginning their rise, and for some, the tournament served as a painful reminder: in modern Counter-Strike, a big name or a single successful run is not enough. What matters is consistency, depth, and the ability to prove your level again and again.
