Parivision, BC.Recreation, and Crew Liquid have kick-started IEM Kraków 2026 on the entrance foot, with early victories of their first best-of-three matches of the occasion.
Elsewhere, the likes of GamerLegion and HEROIC are on the verge of elimination after coming into the decrease bracket.
BC.Recreation Survives Legacy Scare
The presence of BC.Recreation at Kraków marked the return of Counter-Strike legend Oleksandr ‘s1mple’ Kostyliev to an IEM stage for the primary time in three years. After signing the SAW core in the course of the post-Main break, the worldwide roster discovered itself on the again foot within the opening half of Overpass as Legacy raced to a dominant 10-2 lead.
BC.Recreation continued to scale back the deficit with a wonderful defensive exhibiting of its personal, managing to power additional time to strike an unlikely comeback. The defence continued to carry sturdy in additional time, finishing the comeback to win the opening map 16-13.
With the momentum in its favour, BC.Recreation dominated the opening half of Inferno, ending the primary half with a 10-round lead. A one-versus-four clutch from s1mple in spherical 14 cemented a convincing 13-1 victory, securing a 2-0 sweep regardless of the early scare.
Parivision Pushes Ahead
Contemporary from a BLAST Bounty Season 1 victory, Parivision started its Kraków marketing campaign towards a defiant HEROIC aspect that gave the newest Tier 1 occasion winner a run for its cash.
The all-Russian roster opened the sequence with a snug 13-6 victory on Inferno earlier than HEROIC answered again on Mud II with a 13-6 scoreline of its personal to power a decider on Historical.
One other sturdy exhibiting from Emil ‘nota’ Moskvitin spearheaded Parivision to a different 13-6 win and a 2-1 sequence victory because of some pinpoint precision with the rifle in hand. The win units up a conflict towards Aurora Gaming within the higher bracket’s second spherical.
Crew Liquid Bests Ninjas In Pyjamas
As one among Kraków’s notable gamers to observe, Karim ‘Krimbo’ Moussa made his Crew Liquid debut as a short lived stand-in in a vital conflict towards Ninjas in Pyjamas. Crew Liquid started on the entrance foot, taking NIP’s choose of Nuke 13-6 to safe an early lead.
One other sturdy defensive exhibiting on Mirage sealed the deal for Crew Liquid. A 13-8 scoreline accomplished a convincing 2-0 sweep, alongside incomes important Valve Regional Standings (VRS) factors in the direction of the IEM Cologne Main.
Regardless of the absence of Keith ‘NAF’ Markovic, Crew Liquid continues to show sturdy ranges of cohesion because it seeks to earn one other playoff place.
PaiN Gaming And GamerLegion Endure Early Defeats
Following defeats to Aurora Gaming and Astralis, respectively, GamerLegion and PaiN Gaming are amongst eight groups already on the verge of elimination.
GamerLegion appears to be like to run the decrease bracket gauntlet with a victory over HEROIC. Nonetheless, the latter confirmed indicators of brilliance towards Parivision within the higher bracket. In the meantime, the Brazilian aspect of PaiN Gaming takes on B8. After making the highest 4 of the Austin Main, PaiN Gaming has struggled to rediscover its kind in Tier 1 competitors.
What’s Subsequent?
The second day of IEM Kraków 2026 contains a combination of higher and decrease bracket matches as the primary wave of groups safe qualification for the Group Stage. For 4 groups within the decrease bracket, their match involves an early finish.
Followers can tune into the occasion throughout ESL’s Twitch and YouTube channels from 1 PM GMT at this time (January twenty ninth).
