Parivision, 3DMAX and G2 Esports qualify for IEM Kraków Group Stage

Parivision, 3DMAX, and G2 Esports have change into the primary three groups to qualify for the IEM Kraków 2026 Group Stage.

The trio efficiently navigated by means of the Play-In’s higher bracket, scoring two victories throughout the event’s first two days.

After knocking HEROIC into the decrease bracket in its opening match, Parivision continued its latest run of sturdy type by reserving its place within the group stage with a 2-1 victory over Aurora Gaming. 

A one-versus-two clutch within the opening map from Vladislav ‘xiELO’ Lysov helped solidify the defence of the BLAST Bounty Season 1 champion, taking Mirage with a convincing 13-5 scoreline. 

Aurora Gaming’s decide of Anubis closely favoured the group well-known for its sturdy performances on the map. A 13-5 win for Aurora Gaming levelled the sequence, however Parivision’s class shone by means of on the deciding Mud II.

A dominant 10-2 half constructed a lead unattainable for Aurora Gaming to beat. In the long run, Parivision closed out the map with a 13-4 scoreline to wrap up a 2-1 sequence victory and spotlight itself as one of many occasion’s darkish horses.

Earlier within the competitors, 3DMAX efficiently fended off FUT Esports in a difficult best-of-three that required additional time within the first two maps. This victory arrange a conflict in opposition to a BC.Game side that was additionally driving a wave of momentum after sweeping apart Legacy. 

An absence of cohesion from BC.Recreation was evident from the outset, with 3DMAX showcasing superior teamplay to take Overpass 13-3. Regardless of Oleksandr ‘s1mple’ Kostyliev nearly finishing an unlikely one-versus-four clutch on Anubis, 3DMAX rounded out the second map with a powerful 13-4 scoreline to safe a dominant 2-0 sweep and transfer on to the following stage.

Regardless of the absence of Keith ‘NAF’ Markovic, Workforce Liquid has continued to show indicators of brilliance throughout its Kraków marketing campaign. Nonetheless, in its approach was G2 Esports, which stays among the many world’s greatest groups within the early phases of 2026. 

G2 Esports started the sequence with a wonderful attacking show, profitable seven rounds within the second half of Mirage to take Workforce Liquid’s map decide 13-8, securing an early lead. Not backing down, Workforce Liquid answered again on the BLAST Open London champion’s decide of Inferno, halting any sort of assault to construct an 11-1 lead at halftime.

G2 Esports mounted a slight comeback within the second half, however two attacking wins from Workforce Liquid wrapped up a 13-6 win to pressure an Anubis decider. 

Just like Mirage, the offence of G2 Esports proved too sturdy for Workforce Liquid within the first half, incomes a 9-3 lead after 12 rounds. Nonetheless, Workforce Liquid decreased the deficit, together with breaking the G2 Esports economic system in spherical 19 to take the lead, due to a chic efficiency from Roland ‘final’ Tomkowiak on AWPing duties. G2 Esports answered again with three defensive rounds to ship the map and sequence to additional time. 

In the end, it was G2 that emerged victorious after buying and selling rounds forwards and backwards with Workforce Liquid, taking Anubis 16-14 to spherical off a hotly contested 2-1 victory. 

Day three of IEM Kraków 2026 options extra teamslooking to safe one of many remaining locations on the occasion’s Group Stage. The remaining higher and decrease bracket matches happen from 1 PM GMT on January thirtieth.

Followers can watch the remaining groups throughout ESL’s Twitch and YouTube channels