Aurora, paiN'i kendinden emin bir şekilde mağlup ederek IEM Krakow 2026'nın 2. aşamasına yükseldi.

Aurora continue their run at IEM Krakow 2026 after securing a convincing victory over paiN Gaming in the decisive Stage 1 match. The series ended 2:0, with Aurora completely outplaying their opponents on both maps, showcasing superior preparation, tempo control, and individual skill to book their place in Stage 2 of the tournament.

Map veto:

1. paiN removed Anubis
2. Aurora removed Ancient
3. paiN picked Mirage
4. Aurora picked Overpass
5. paiN removed Inferno
6. Aurora removed Nuke
7. Dust2 was left over

Mirage (13:7 Aurora)

On Mirage, Aurora set the pace from the very first rounds and never allowed paiN to feel comfortable. The team performed confidently in key moments, consistently winning duels and managing their economy more effectively. Despite a few successful rounds from paiN, Aurora maintained full control of the map and calmly closed it out with a 13:7 victory.

Overpass (13:6 Aurora)

Overpass proved to be even more one-sided. Aurora dominated both in structured play and aggressive engagements, quickly building a comfortable lead. paiN were unable to find consistent solutions on either the T or CT side, while Aurora confidently closed out rounds and avoided mistakes in clutch situations. The result was a 13:6 win and a clean 2:0 series victory for Aurora.

Match MVP

MAJ3R was named the MVP of the match, finishing the series with a 1.58 rating.

Aurora secure a crucial win and advance to Stage 2 of IEM Krakow 2026. paiN failed to find their game and exit the tournament in 9–12th place, earning $4,500 in prize money. IEM Krakow 2026 Stage 1 takes place from January 28 to January 30, with only 8 of the 16 teams advancing to the main stage.