I’m so excited for the Kraków tournament to kick off! It’s starting with some matches featuring up-and-coming teams, and honestly, they’re all really hungry to prove themselves. What’s especially cool is that this is the first major event for BC.Game Esports, and it’s amazing to see Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev competing with them. I can’t wait to see what they can do!
Get ready to witness a historic moment! Intel Extreme Masters is coming to Kraków for the very first time, marking a change from its traditional location in Katowice. This event also kicks off the 2026 competitive season with live playoffs and a roaring crowd.
The first part of IEM Kraków 2026 is a Play-In stage where 16 CS2 teams who initially ranked lower compete. They’re playing to earn eight places in the main group stage, where the highest-ranked teams will then join the competition.
How to watch IEM Kraków 2026 Play-In: Stream
You can watch the first matches of IEM Krakow 2026, called the Play-In stage, live on the official ESL Counter-Strike YouTube channel. The stream is available right here in the video above.
Play-In Schedule at IEM Krakow 2026
The IEM Krakow 2026 tournament begins with the Play-In stage on January 28th. Expect plenty of Counter-Strike 2 esports action each day, with a full schedule listed below.
| Estimated startStream TBAStream TBA | 11 a.m. CET / 5 a. m. ET, Jan. 28Aurora vs GamerLegionHEROIC vs PARIVISION |
1:30 p.m. CET / 7:30 a. m. ET, Jan. 28Astralis vs paiNNRG vs B8 |
4 p.m. CET / 10 a. m. ET, Jan. 28Legacy vs BC.GameFUT vs 3DMAX |
6:30 p.m. CET / 12:30 p. m. ET, Jan. 28Liquid vs NiPPassion UA vs G2 |
Matchups and results: IEM Krakow 2026 Play-In
This tournament uses a double-elimination bracket system. Teams need to win two matches to qualify for the IEM Krakow 2026 Groups. While one loss isn’t a problem, losing two matches will knock a team out of the competition.
Final standings
| Play-in placament | Team | Groups qualification | Prize money |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st–4th | TBD TBD TBD TBD |
+ | TBD |
| 5th–8th | TBD TBD TBD TBD |
+ | TBD |
| 9th–11th | TBD TBD TBD TBD |
– | $4,500 |
| 12th–16th | TBD TBD TBD TBD |
– | $2,500 |
Upper brackets
| Round 1 | Round 2 | Qualified teams |
|---|---|---|
| Aurora vs GamerLegion | TBD vs TBD | TBD |
| HEROIC vs PARIVISION | TBD vs TBD | TBD |
| Liquid vs NiP | ||
| Passion UA vs G2 |
| Round 1 | Round 2 | Qualified teams |
|---|---|---|
| Legacy vs BC.Game | TBD vs TBD | TBD |
| FUT vs 3DMAX | TBD vs TBD | TBD |
| Astralis vs paiN | ||
| NRG vs B8 |
Lower brackets
| Round 1 | Round 2 | Qualified teams |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs TBD | TBD vs TBD | TBD |
| TBD vs TBD | TBD vs TBD | TBD |
| TBD vs TBD | ||
| TBD vs TBD |
| Round 1 | Round 2 | Qualified teams |
|---|---|---|
| TBD vs TBD | TBD vs TBD | TBD |
| TBD vs TBD | TBD vs TBD | TBD |
| TBD vs TBD | ||
| TBD vs TBD |
CS2 teams to watch out for during the Play-In stage of IEM Krakow 2026
The biggest story of this IEM Krakow 2026 stage is likely the return of Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev to high-level competition. After joining BC Game Esports in July 2025, he’s been instrumental in helping the team improve their ranking and qualify for this tournament.
BC Game Esports put together their current team in January 2026, but they haven’t had much success so far. They finished in last place at the IEM Rio 2026: Global Qualifier.
PARAVISION is kicking off their IEM Krakow 2026 journey in the Play-In stage, but they’ve already had a major victory this year. They recently won the BLAST Bounty Winter 2026 tournament, defeating strong teams like Team Spirit, FURIA, and Team Falcons to claim the championship.
At the 2025 Budapest Major, Passion UA and B8 were notable teams that surprised many by performing well despite being considered underdogs. However, Passion UA didn’t have a strong showing at the start of the 2026 Bounty season. This tournament marks B8’s first major competition of the year.
Shaky favorites
Legacy and Aurora Gaming had a very successful 2025, achieving significant wins in major tournaments. However, it’s currently unclear if they can maintain that level of performance.
G2 Esports took first place at BLAST Open Fall 2025, but their performance since then hasn’t been consistent. They’re still considered a top contender at the IEM Krakow 2026 Play-In stage and are frequently favored by esports bettors.
Counter-Strike tournaments are often full of unexpected results! The initial Play-In matches could reveal changes in which teams are the strongest.
The best teams will compete in the IEM Krakow 2026 tournament, beginning with the Group Stage on January 31st. The tournament will culminate in the grand final on February 8th.
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2026-01-27 12:42