MOUZ Crush Falcons’ Late-Round Collapses to Secure Final IEM Kraków 2026 Playoff Spot

MOUZ completed a dramatic lower-bracket run at IEM Kraków 2026, defeating Falcons 2-0 in the Group B decider to claim the final playoff berth inside the TAURON Arena. The series quickly became one of the most talked-about matches of the event due to MOUZ repeatedly winning 3v5 and 2v5 rounds and finishing Dust2 with a flawless 6-0 clutch record.

The result sends MOUZ to the arena stage and ends Falcons’ campaign after a tournament marked by lost advantages and late-round communication issues.

Match overview: MOUZ vs Falcons result

Final score:
MOUZ 2–0 Falcons
 Inferno — 16-14 (OT)
 Dust2 — 19-17 (2OT)

The series showcased MOUZ’s composure under pressure and Falcons’ inability to convert winning positions — a recurring narrative that has followed the team since 2025.

Inferno recap — MOUZ steal overtime thriller

Falcons started strong on the opener, leading 7-5 at halftime thanks to consistent A-site holds from NiKo and TeSeS. Falcons also secured the second-half pistol and briefly looked in control of the map.

However, MOUZ slowly dismantled the lead:

torzsi found repeated opening kills from Arch and Banana
xertioN recovered after a slow start with crucial mid-round impact
Late-round trades forced overtime

Once in OT, MOUZ seized momentum and closed Inferno 16-14, setting the tone for the rest of the series.

Dust2 recap — Falcons lose decisive 5v3 rounds

Dust2 delivered one of the most chaotic finishes of the tournament.

Falcons began with a 6-2 lead, powered by a strong individual showing from m0NESY. Despite the star AWPer’s performance, Falcons repeatedly lost rounds from advantage positions.

Key storyline of the map:

Falcons lost multiple 5v3 situations
The first round of overtime slipped away from a winning position
MOUZ won every clutch situation (6-0 clutch record)
The match ended 19-17 after double overtime

These collapses ultimately handed MOUZ the series and a spot in the arena playoffs.

Falcons admit mistakes after elimination

Falcons’ in-game leader kyxsan openly acknowledged the team’s poor performance after the loss:

“We didn’t play our best game today… we played sloppy… We didn’t deserve to win… MOUZ deserved the win.”

The defeat reinforced a known weakness in Falcons’ structure during chaotic late rounds. In a previous interview, kyxsan highlighted communication problems in pressure situations:

“When three people are talking on top of each other, it’s not easy to play.”

Player stats and ratings (HLTV Rating 3.0)

Best players — MOUZ

Spinx — 48-42, 1.18 rating
xertioN — 48-41, 1.17 rating
torzsi — 45-44, 1.05 rating

Best players — Falcons

kyousuke — 50-47, 1.19 rating
NiKo — 44-40, 1.14 rating
m0NESY — 50-43, 1.13 rating

Despite strong individual numbers from Falcons’ stars, MOUZ proved superior in team play and clutch situations.

MOUZ lower-bracket run to the playoffs

MOUZ’s win capped an impressive survival run:

Eliminated FaZe in the previous elimination match
Won the final Group B decider vs Falcons
Secured the last IEM Kraków playoff spot

Meanwhile, Falcons’ elimination followed an earlier loss to Aurora that pushed them into the lower bracket and forced a difficult path to the arena.

m0NESY remains a long-term Falcons project

Although Falcons exited the event, the organization continues to build around m0NESY.

Previous team comments suggest confidence in his long-term ceiling:

Falcons ensured he still has AWP “freedom”
TeSeS believes the star AWPer will reach a “new higher ceiling” when he regains full form

This indicates Falcons’ elimination is unlikely to trigger immediate roster changes.

What’s next at IEM Kraków 2026?

With MOUZ locking in the final playoff slot, the TAURON Arena stage lineup is now complete, setting the stage for the tournament’s final battles in front of a live crowd.