Vitality and Aurora secure spot in the Tauron Arena by reaching IEM Krakow 2026 Playoffs

Aurora and Vitality became the latest teams to head to the Tauron Arena after reaching the Playoffs of IEM Krakow 2026. This was two teams with very different fortunes coming into the event, but their efforts have left them both with a Playoffs berth without requiring a testy Lower Bracket run.

Vitality ruin 3DMAX in barely competitive series

For a qualification match with a spot in the IEM Krakow 2026 Playoffs on the line, I expected a little more fight in this series. 3DMAX vs. Vitality, the French vs. the French. It had all the makings of a banger matchup, even if Vitality arrived as heavy favorites. But you’d be hard-pressed to suggest that 3DMAX arrived at all, losing 2:0 in a series that extends Vitality’s dominant winning run against them since the start of 2025 to five. Throughout this period, Vitality have never dropped a map to 3DMAX. There is no rivalry here.

In truth, there is very little to say about this match – it was as standard a victory as you’re ever likely to see. Not once did Vitality look in any danger, with both Inferno and Dust2 finishing a convincing 13:6. ZywOo and flameZ will take the big plaudits for their individual numbers, but this was really a case of every Vitality player doing the basics perfectly and reaping the rewards.

3DMAX can still reach the IEM Krakow 2026 Playoffs, but they’ll have to show more than this if they want to have any chance of making it to the Tauron Arena in a few days’ time. Given their incredibly difficult bracket in Group B, which now also contains MOUZ, their odds feel slimmer than ever.

Aurora stomp MOUZ as MAJ3R comes good

Whisper it quietly, but Aurora may have finally turned a corner. A stomping victory over MOUZ in a two-map series has locked in the Playoffs of IEM Krakow 2026 for the Turkish team, who have looked very impressive throughout this event after a difficult end to last year.

Throughout this series, Aurora‘s stars in Wicadia, XANTARES, and woxic were able to take a backseat, with new addition soulfly and struggling IGL MAJ3R taking center stage. A 34-kill series from MAJ3R was a sign of the times for MOUZ, who struggled to find any impact across the board. When your alleged ‘worst’ players are putting up these sorts of numbers, it’s rare you’ll lose in Counter-Strike. A top showing from Aurora, who have bounced back in style at IEM Krakow. They’ve still got a lot to prove, sure, but this is as good a start to their Poland journey as they could’ve asked for.

MOUZ now face a Lower Bracket run of their own to reach the Tauron Arena. Considering this team’s ambitions (and the fact that they held off on a roster change in the new year despite many rumors), it would no doubt be a disastrous result if they can’t secure Playoffs.

The remaining matches today at IEM Krakow 2026 will focus on the Lower Brackets, which will conclude tomorrow.