Parivision, 3DMAX, and G2 Esports have grow to be the primary three groups to qualify for the IEM Kraków 2026 Group Stage.
The trio efficiently navigated by way of the Play-In’s higher bracket, scoring two victories throughout the event’s first two days.
Parivision’s Kind Continues
After knocking HEROIC into the decrease bracket in its opening match, Parivision continued its latest run of robust type by reserving its place within the group stage with a 2-1 victory over Aurora Gaming.
A one-versus-two clutch within the opening map from Vladislav ‘xiELO’ Lysov helped solidify the defence of the BLAST Bounty Season 1 champion, taking Mirage with a convincing 13-5 scoreline.
Aurora Gaming’s choose of Anubis closely favoured the crew well-known for its robust performances on the map. A 13-5 win for Aurora Gaming levelled the collection, however Parivision’s class shone by way of on the deciding Mud II.
A dominant 10-2 half constructed a lead inconceivable for Aurora Gaming to beat. Ultimately, Parivision closed out the map with a 13-4 scoreline to wrap up a 2-1 collection victory and spotlight itself as one of many occasion’s darkish horses.
3DMAX Dominates BC.Recreation
Earlier within the competitors, 3DMAX efficiently fended off FUT Esports in a tough best-of-three that required additional time within the first two maps. This victory arrange a conflict towards a BC.Recreation aspect that was additionally using a wave of momentum after sweeping apart Legacy.
An absence of cohesion from BC.Recreation was evident from the outset, with 3DMAX showcasing superior teamplay to take Overpass 13-3. Regardless of Oleksandr ‘s1mple’ Kostyliev virtually finishing an unlikely one-versus-four clutch on Anubis, 3DMAX rounded out the second map with a formidable 13-4 scoreline to safe a dominant 2-0 sweep and transfer on to the following stage.
G2 Esports Marches On
Regardless of the absence of Keith ‘NAF’ Markovic, Staff Liquid has continued to show indicators of brilliance throughout its Kraków marketing campaign. Nevertheless, in its approach was G2 Esports, which stays among the many world’s greatest groups within the early phases of 2026.
G2 Esports started the collection with a superb attacking show, profitable seven rounds within the second half of Mirage to take Staff Liquid’s map choose 13-8, securing an early lead. Not backing down, Staff Liquid answered again on the BLAST Open London champion’s choose of Inferno, halting any form of assault to construct an 11-1 lead at halftime.
G2 Esports mounted a slight comeback within the second half, however two attacking wins from Staff Liquid wrapped up a 13-6 win to power an Anubis decider.
Just like Mirage, the offence of G2 Esports proved too robust for Staff Liquid within the first half, incomes a 9-3 lead after 12 rounds. Nonetheless, Staff Liquid lowered the deficit, together with breaking the G2 Esports economic system in spherical 19 to take the lead, due to a elegant efficiency from Roland ‘final’ Tomkowiak on AWPing duties. G2 Esports answered again with three defensive rounds to ship the map and collection to additional time.
Finally, it was G2 that emerged victorious after buying and selling rounds backwards and forwards with Staff Liquid, taking Anubis 16-14 to spherical off a hotly contested 2-1 victory.
IEM Kraków 2026 Day 3 Particulars
Day three of IEM Kraków 2026 options extra teamslooking to safe one of many remaining locations on the occasion’s Group Stage. The remaining higher and decrease bracket matches happen from 1 PM GMT on January thirtieth.
Followers can watch the remaining groups throughout ESL’s Twitch and YouTube channels
