IEM Krakow 2026 Playoffs Heat Up as Counter-Strike's Elite Battle for Championship Glory

The Intel Extreme Masters tournament made its historic debut in Krakow, Poland this week, with the playoffs reaching a fever pitch on February 7 as the world's best Counter-Strike 2 teams battled in the semifinals at the TAURON Arena Kraków. The tournament marks a new chapter for IEM after a decade of memorable competition in Katowice, bringing elite esports action to a new Polish city.

Team Spirit and FURIA Esports faced off in the first semifinal at 15:45 CET, with both teams having navigated challenging paths through the group stage and quarterfinals. Spirit earned their semifinal berth by defeating G2 Esports in a thrilling three-map series in the quarterfinals, showcasing the tactical prowess that has made them one of Counter-Strike's most respected organizations. FURIA advanced by defeating Aurora in their quarterfinal matchup, with the Brazilian squad demonstrating the aggressive, fast-paced style that has become their trademark.

The second semifinal pitted Team Vitality against MOUZ at 19:00 CET, promising another high-stakes showdown between two of Europe's premier Counter-Strike organizations. MOUZ entered the match with tremendous momentum after convincingly eliminating FaZe Clan from the tournament with a decisive 2-0 victory in the quarterfinals. The German-international roster proved they have the firepower and strategy to compete with the very best teams in the world.

IEM Krakow 2026 features a massive $1,250,000 prize pool, with the champion earning $400,000 along with an ESL Pro Tour Championship title. Twenty-four teams began the competition in the Play-In stage, with the field narrowing through intense Swiss-format group play before the top six teams advanced to the single-elimination playoff bracket. The move from Katowice to Krakow represents ESL and Intel's commitment to growing the Counter-Strike esports ecosystem across multiple Polish cities.

The grand final is scheduled for February 8, where one team will etch their name in history as the first-ever IEM Krakow champion. The tournament has already delivered memorable moments and highlighted the incredible depth of talent in the global Counter-Strike scene. With Counter-Strike 2 continuing to evolve as an esport, IEM Krakow serves as a crucial early-season measuring stick for teams with championship aspirations heading into the rest of 2026.