ESL announce IEM Kraków opening matchups

ESL revealed the opening matchups for Stage 1 of IEM Kraków 2026. The event replaces IEM Katowice as the first super-elite event of the year as Counter-Strike returns to Kraków nearly nine years after the 2017 PGL Major.

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Stage 1 will see 16 teams battle in a double-elimination bracket for the last eight spots in the main event. The matches will run for three days starting on January 28th with Stage 2 starting on January 31st.

Liquid, Passion UA, NRG, and G2's Mario "malbsMd" Samayoa serve as the North American representation hoping to make Stage 2.

The opening matchups for IEM Kraków 2026 Stage 1 are:

Aurora vs GamerLegion
HEROIC vs PARIVISION
Liquid vs Ninjas in Pyjamas
Passion UA vs G2
Legacy vs BC.Game
FUT vs 3DMAX
Astralis vs paiN
NRG vs B8

https://x.com/ESLCS/status/2012178336240271758?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2012178336240271758%7Ctwgr%5E1fafc08f2d4077ec3ff9947aa876f703f71ab8d4%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dust2.in%2Fnews%2F69699%2Fiem-krakow-opening-matchups-revealed

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