G2 and Spirit secure IEM Kraków playoff berth

CS2 Writer

Publish Date: February 2, 2026

Stage 2 of IEM Kraków 2026 is well underway, with all of the best CS2 teams competing for one of the six playoff spots.

Two teams have already punched their ticket to the Tauron Arena – G2, who started all the way in Stage 1, and Spirit, powered by the force that is Danil “donk” Kryshkovets.

Here’s what happened so far in Poland.

G2 and Spirit are in the playoffs

huNter has been exceptional in Kraków so far. Credit: © StarLadder

G2 have looked excellent thus far in the competition, having won four straight games through the first two stages to qualify for the playoffs. The international squad bested Passion UA and Liquid in Stage 1, before outclassing The MongolZ and FUT in Stage 2.

While they were beneficiaries of an upset on their side of the bracket, with FURIA losing to FUT, they beat everyone that was in front of them, and they deserve to play in front of the packed-out crowd in the Tauron Arena.

As for Spirit, they had to fight hard to get to the playoffs. Two overtime victories against Astralis and Natus Vincere were what it took to make it through. As always, arguably the best CS2 player donk spearheaded his team’s charge.

The two teams will face off in Group A’s upper bracket final on Tuesday evening to determine who will go straight to the semi-finals.

PARIVISION and The MongolZ are eliminated

PARIVISION couldn’t replicate their BLAST Bounty success. Credit: © BLAST Premier

Two high-profile teams have already been eliminated from the competition, with PARIVISION and The MongolZ forced to fly home early.

It was always going to be a tough time for The MongolZ, having to integrate Anarbileg “cobrazera” Uuganbayar into the lineup, changing their CS2 team roles, and having to face difficult opposition from the get-go.

While losing to G2 and FURIA shouldn’t be a cause for concern in itself, The MongolZ looked really uncompetitive, especially against G2 and on the decider in the FURIA game. It might take a lot of time before we see The MongolZ in the playoffs again.

The bigger shock of the two is PARIVISION’s early elimination. The BLAST Bounty Champions looked comfortable in Stage 1, but struggled to find the same groove in Stage 2. Two close losses against NAVI and Astralis mean they go out in last place.

Hopefully, both PARIVISION and The MongolZ find their mojo again and come back strong in the upcoming CS2 events.

Favorites in the lower bracket

Falcons are struggling even with kyousuke in the squad. Credit: Helena Kristiansson | © ESL

While Vitality, Spirit, and MOUZ have taken care of business thus far in IEM Kraków, other CS2 betting favorites, namely Falcons, FURIA, and FaZe Clan, lost out to underdogs in the opening round.

Falcons’ defeat is the least egregious of the three, having fallen short to Aurora in a tight three-map series. FURIA’s and FaZe’s form is much more worrying.

FURIA looked uninspiring against the newcomers FUT, who looked like a much better team in their opening matchup. Even in their elimination game against The MongolZ, they barely made it over the line. Hopefully, it’s just a lack of match fitness from the Brazilian-majority squad.

As for FaZe, things are looking bleak. The international powerhouse got completely trounced by 3DMAX, winning only nine rounds in two maps against the French. At this point, qualifying for the playoffs seems like a pipe dream for FaZe and their fans.

Over the next two days, we will find out the remaining playoff teams and who will battle it out in the Tauron Arena for the inaugural IEM Kraków event.