Kraków’s Gauntlet: Will Favorites Fall in Stage 2?

Look Sports Media – The hallowed halls of IEM Kraków 2026 are set to ignite as Stage 2 commences, ushering in the titans of Counter-Strike. Following an intense Stage 1 that saw Oleksandr ‘s1mple’ Kostyliev’s BC Game successfully navigate the initial gauntlet, the landscape is now primed for an even grander spectacle. Powerhouses like Vitality, Furia, Falcons, Spirit, FaZe, Mouz, NaVi, and The MongolZ are poised to enter the fray, ready to assert their dominance against the qualifiers. However, the recent BLAST Bounty victory by Parivision has sent shockwaves through the scene, suggesting that the established hierarchy at the pinnacle of Counter-Strike is more contested than ever.

Spirit’s T-Side Conundrum

Team Spirit, despite clinching four Tier 1 trophies in 2025, often found their championship aspirations hindered by inconsistent Terrorist-side performances. Their offensive strategies frequently hinged on the individual brilliance of Danil ‘donk’ Kryshkovets, leading to a predictable and at times stagnant approach without his impactful plays. While the departure of Leonid ‘chopper’ Vishnyakov aimed to address these tactical shortcomings, Boris ‘magixx’ Vorobiev, despite not taking up the in-game leader role, has yet to orchestrate a significant stylistic shift. Tactical evolutions demand time, but IEM Kraków is a proving ground where immediate results are paramount. All eyes will be on Spirit to see if they’ve unveiled a refined tactical playbook for their T-sides.

FaZe and NaVi: A Quest for Redemption in 2026

Both FaZe Clan and Natus Vincere endured a disappointing start to 2026, finding themselves at the bottom of the leaderboard at BLAST Bounty after early online exits. While online results are often dismissed as less indicative of true form, these early exits were not entirely unforeseen. FaZe’s 2025 campaign was marked by inconsistency, with their miraculous Budapest run serving as a solitary beacon in an otherwise inconsistent year. Despite boasting two of the world’s premier riflers in Russel ‘Twistzz’ Van Dulken and David ‘frozen’ Čerňanský, the team struggled to consistently replicate that Budapest magic.

NaVi’s narrative mirrors FaZe’s, albeit with less dramatic flair. In 2025, they consistently reached the latter stages of events but struggled to convert those appearances into championship contention, often acting as a "gatekeeper" rather than a true challenger. Budapest offered a glimpse of their potential, yet it still wasn’t enough to secure silverware. Now, with a roster reportedly grappling with internal dynamics and unmet expectations, NaVi’s players may find themselves in a precarious position. Their path to success in Kraków hinges on rekindling the cohesive spirit they briefly displayed in Budapest.

Vitality and Furia: Reclaiming Their Throne

Vitality and Furia, widely anticipated to renew their fierce rivalry in another best-of-five Grand Final at BLAST Bounty, were unexpectedly derailed by Falcons (playing with a stand-in) and Parivision, respectively. Even prior to these upsets, both teams exhibited uncharacteristically disjointed performances during the online stage against lesser-ranked opponents like Eyeballers and FUT. Furia, in particular, struggled to dispatch a Heroic side that was later decisively beaten by GamerLegion in IEM Kraków’s Stage 1.

While BLAST Bounty served as a warm-up tournament for many top teams, these early results undeniably indicate that neither Vitality nor Furia are currently operating at their peak capabilities. At the summit of Counter-Strike, every move is scrutinized, and opponents are constantly seeking to dissect and counter strategies. IEM Kraków is the critical juncture where these titans must rediscover their dominant form, or risk their standing at the top of Counter-Strike becoming a more precarious position.

Falcons Soar: Full Strength and Ready to Strike

Team Falcons demonstrated remarkable resilience at BLAST Bounty, securing a commendable second-place finish despite navigating the tournament with a crucial roster substitution due to unforeseen visa complications. With Maksim ‘kyousuke’ Lukin now back in action and Danny ‘zonic’ Sørensen expected to resume his coaching duties, Falcons are poised to unleash their full potential. Their impressive victory over Vitality in Malta en route to the BLAST Grand Final underscored their capabilities, and they appeared to be the strongest team during the online portion of the event, avoiding the scares that plagued other top contenders. With kyousuke’s return, Falcons will be aiming to take another significant step forward and, crucially, finally break their streak of Grand Final heartbreaks.