IEM Kraków attracted 38,000 in attendance and saw a record-breaking peak viewership of 1,370,524*
Sunday, February 8, 2026, Kraków: The inaugural Intel® Extreme Masters (IEM) Kraków crowned its first champion as Team Vitality defeated FURIA 3:1 in the Grand Final. Following their victory, Team Vitality lifted the IEM Championship trophy, claimed the lion’s share of the $1,250,000 in Total Winnings, and entered the Hall of Heroes, etching their name in Counter-Strike history. The Final marked the tournament’s first-ever edition in Kraków, opening a new chapter in the Intel® Extreme Masters’ 19-year legacy.
The sold-out IEM Kraków delivered a thrilling conclusion to two weeks of world-class Counter-Strike (CS) action, attracting over 38,000 in attendance from more than 50 different countries to Kraków. The event reached a peak viewership of 1,370,524 (according to escharts.com), it also became the most-watched non-Major Counter-Strike tournament based on hours watched, as fans around the world tuned in to witness the crowning of the first IEM Champions in Kraków.
Stage 1 & 2
The ESL Pro Tour (EPT) Championship commenced on January 28, with 16 teams entering Stage 1 to battle for coveted spots in Stage 2. PARAVISION, G2 Esports, 3DMAX, NRG, Astralis, BC Game Esports, FUT Esports, and Aurora Gaming showcased their form and advanced to the next stage of the competition.
Taking place on January 31 – February 3, Stage 2 saw Team Vitality and Team Spirit storm through their brackets with dominant 3:0 records, advancing to the Semifinals. Close behind, G2 Esports and Aurora Gaming qualified as the top-seeded quarterfinalists, while FURIA and MOUZ fought their way through the lower bracket to complete the playoff lineup.
Playoffs
The tournament reached its climax as the six remaining teams took to the main stage at TAURON Arena Kraków on February 6 – 8. In the Quarterfinals, the Brazilian powerhouse FURIA dominated Aurora Gaming 2:0, followed by MOUZ’s 2:0 victory against G2. In the Semifinals, FURIA and Team Spirit traded rounds in an exciting matchup that culminated in FURIA’s 2:1 win. The second Semifinal saw reigning IEM Katowice Champions Team Vitality deliver a strong performance to eliminate MOUZ 2:0. Before the Grand Final, Team Spirit took the win in the third-place decider against MOUZ.
The Grand Final kept fans on the edge of their seats as they tuned in to witness Team Vitality’s chance at revenge against FURIA after their recent IEM Chengdu 2025 victory. The best-of-five matchup started well for FURIA on Mirage, before Vitality picked up the pace on Inferno and continued their winning streak through Nuke and Overpass. Team Vitality ultimately closed the Grand Final with a 3:1 score and lifted the trophy in front of a cheering crowd. IEM Kraków 2026 marked Team Vitality’s defense of the IEM Katowice Championship title, adding a historic victory in Kraków to their legacy.
The victory also earned Team Vitality a Championship title in the ESL Grand Slam VI race, moving them one step closer to the $1,000,000 bonus, which they could complete at IEM Rio running April 13 – 16.
“I think this team is making history. So many big trophies together. We are closer from the second Grand Slam ever. I’m speechless once again, my team is amazing, we keep winning. We lost that Mirage, we should’ve never lost it, but I’m really proud of my boys today” – said Dan “Apex” Madesclaire.
The ESL Pro Tour for Counter-Strike continues with ESL Pro League Season 23 in Stockholm, Sweden. For more information about the ESL’s Counter-Strike ecosystem, go to the official website or follow ESL Counter-Strike on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
IEM Kraków 2026 pictures are available HERE
*According to escharts.com
