IEM Kraków 2026 All-Star Team Revealed: donk and Aurora Rookie soulfly Join ZywOo in HLTV’s Best CS2 Players of the Event

HLTV has officially announced the IEM Kraków 2026 All-Star Team, recognizing the most impactful Counter-Strike 2 players of the tournament. The selection highlights superstar performances, breakout talent, and the players who defined the biggest CS2 event of early 2026.

The tournament took place January 28 – February 8, 2026, ending with Team Vitality defeating FURIA 3-1 in the grand final.

The HLTV All-Star lineup includes:

Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut (Vitality) — AWPer / MVP

Danil “donk” Kryshkovets (Spirit) — Entry fragger

Dan “apEX” Madesclaire (Vitality) — IGL

Chaner “soulfly” Kesici (Aurora) — Anchor

Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato (FURIA) — Closer

This roster perfectly reflects the storylines of the event: Vitality’s dominance, FURIA’s deep run, Spirit’s continued star power, and Aurora’s breakthrough performance.

ZywOo Dominates IEM Kraków 2026 and Secures MVP

Vitality’s superstar AWPer ZywOo was the clear standout of the event. He earned the HLTV MVP medal after producing what was described as his best Big Event performance ever, finishing the tournament with an incredible 1.59 rating.

After lifting the trophy, ZywOo reflected on his form:

“I can say it was my best performance that I’ve ever played in a tournament.”

He also described the emotional flow of the event:

“The way I was playing, the way I was hyping, the way I was smiling — everything was good on my side.”

His performance was the driving force behind Vitality’s title run and cemented the team as the early favorite for the 2026 CS2 season.

donk Continues His Rise Among CS2 Superstars

Team Spirit’s prodigy donk once again proved why he is considered one of the most explosive players in Counter-Strike.

HLTV selected him as the entry fragger of the All-Star Team — a role that highlights his ability to consistently open rounds against top-tier opposition.

In a recent interview, donk made his ambitions clear:

“I cannot be the best player in the world if I will not win tournaments — it’s easy.”

When asked if individual stats matter more than trophies, his response was blunt:

“Not.”

The statement reinforces the pressure on Spirit to convert star performances into championships in 2026.

Aurora Breakthrough: Rookie soulfly Makes HLTV All-Star Team

One of the biggest surprises of IEM Kraków 2026 was the selection of Aurora rookie soulfly as the event’s best anchor.

Despite Aurora falling short of the final, the team impressed throughout the tournament and secured several high-profile wins.

However, the squad remains self-critical. After the playoff exit, AWPer woxic admitted:

“Sorry to the fans — we need to play much better both as a team and individually. Especially on stage.”

Analysts also noted that the team still has room to grow, but the All-Star selection confirms Aurora’s potential to become a consistent playoff contender in CS2.

FURIA’s Consistency Earns KSCERATO All-Star Spot

FURIA reached the grand final thanks to strong teamwork and consistency — and KSCERATO was central to that success.

He was selected as the team’s closer, recognizing his clutch performances and reliability in late-round situations throughout the tournament.

FURIA coach sidde highlighted the team’s adaptability during the playoffs:

“Vetos were a little bit different than what we expected, so we had to bring all of our fundamentals and all of our ideas.”

Why the IEM Kraków 2026 All-Star Team Matters

The HLTV All-Star Team often acts as an early indicator of Player of the Year contenders and the teams likely to shape the competitive season.

Key takeaways from IEM Kraków 2026:

Vitality begin 2026 as the team to beat

ZywOo is already in MVP form

donk remains a top candidate for best player in the world

Aurora have a rising star in soulfly

FURIA continue to be a consistent tier-one threat

Final Thoughts

The IEM Kraków 2026 All-Star Team captures a perfect snapshot of the current CS2 competitive landscape. From ZywOo’s historic MVP run to soulfly’s breakout performance, the tournament delivered both dominance and new storylines.

With the 2026 season just beginning, these players are now firmly at the center of the race for the year’s biggest trophies.