IEM Krakow 2026 started with a surprise when TheMongolZ were knocked out after a close 2-1 loss to FURIA in the Group A lower bracket. TheMongolZ showed some strong moments and even took a map, but couldn’t close it out against one of CS2’s more experienced teams.
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Series Short Recap: A Rollercoaster Best-of-3
The match highlighted the Mongolian team’s potential and resilience, but in the end, a few key moments made the difference.
Map 1. Mirage (TheMongolZ 13-11 FURIA)
TheMongolZ started strong on their map pick, keeping FURIA under pressure. Solid defense and smart plays from Ayush “mzinho” Batbold led them to a convincing first win.
Map 2. Inferno (FURIA 16-13 TheMongolZ)
Inferno was a tense map. TheMongolZ reached several match points and nearly closed out the series, but FURIA’s clutch rounds, including a standout 1v5 by Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo late in the game, kept them in it and forced overtime. In overtime, FURIA pulled ahead.
Map 3. Nuke (FURIA 13-2 TheMongolZ)
With momentum on their side, FURIA dominated Nuke. Mareks “YEKINDAR” Gaļinskis delivered his best LAN performance yet, controlling both Yard and the CT side as FURIA secured the decider in style.
A Missed Opportunity for TheMongolZ
The loss means TheMongolZ finish IEM Krakow in last place, ending their hopes for a deeper run after a strong start on Mirage. As a new roster with a lot of potential, they proved they can compete with top teams, but also showed they need to improve at closing out key rounds under pressure.
What’s Next for Both Teams?
FURIA stay alive in the lower bracket and will have to fight against Natus Vincere tomorrow, January 2 at 19:00 CET, but there are still questions about their form in 2026 after recent results. TheMongolZ will need to regroup and figure out what went wrong as they get ready for their next CS2 events.
