NRG defeated Astralis in a close series to advance to Stage 2 of IEM Krakow 2026
973NRG secured a 2:1 victory over Astralis in a decisive match at I EM Krakow 2026 Stage 1. The series was highly contested and went the full three maps, with both teams taking turns imposing their tempo. As a result, NRG booked their place in Stage 2, while Astralis are forced to continue fighting for survival at the tournament.
Map veto:
- NRG removed Nuke
- Astralis removed Anubis
- NRG picked Mirage
- Astralis picked Overpass
- NRG removed Ancient
- Astralis removed Dust2
- Inferno was left over
Mirage (16:14 NRG)
NRG narrowly secured a win on their own map pick. The first half saw both teams trade rounds and ended in a 6:6 tie. In the second half, NRG looked slightly stronger on the CT side and reached map point, but Astralis pushed the game into overtime, where they eventually fell to NRG, 14:16.
Overpass (13:5 Astralis)
Astralis confidently executed their game plan on Overpass, securing a 13:5 victory. Playing on the T side in the first half, the Danish squad set a high tempo and, thanks to well-coordinated executions, closed the half with a comfortable 9:3 lead. After the side switch, Astralis maintained control on the CT side, denying NRG any chance of a comeback and calmly closing out the map.
Inferno (13:7 NRG)
On the deciding Inferno, NRG came out on top with a 13:7 win. The first half was closely contested, with both teams answering each other’s rounds and ending with a narrow advantage for NRG. After the side switch, the American lineup looked more convincing on the T side, converted key rounds, and did not allow Astralis to mount a comeback, sealing the series victory.
Match MVP
oSee was named the MVP of the match, once again proving to be a key player for NRG. He finished the series with a 56/45 K/D and a 1.24 rating.
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