NAVI Crush G2 With Historic Comebacks to Reach PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 Playoffs

Natus Vincere secured the final playoff berth at PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 after defeating G2 in one of the most dramatic series of the tournament. The CIS-European squad produced two massive second-half comebacks, turning losing positions on both maps into a convincing 2-0 victory.

The result eliminates G2 from the tournament and sends NAVI into the arena playoffs, where they will face MOUZ in the quarter-finals.

Dust2: iM ignites the first comeback

G2 began the series in control on Dust2, building a 7–3 lead and appearing on track to close the map comfortably. However, NAVI flipped the momentum late in the half and never looked back.

After stabilizing their economy, NAVI launched a dominant run and closed the map with a 10-round streak, winning Dust2 13–7.

Key Dust2 highlights

iM delivered the turning-point frags that kept NAVI alive

NAVI’s CT side shut down G2’s mid-round executions

G2 failed to recover once momentum shifted

This comeback immediately set the tone for the series — and foreshadowed what would happen next.

Ancient: b1t delivers one of the best CT halves of the event

If Dust2 looked brutal, Ancient was even worse for G2.

G2 stormed ahead to a 9–1 lead, putting NAVI on the brink of elimination. From that point forward, the map became completely one-sided.

NAVI won 12 rounds in a row to close the map 13–9 and complete the sweep.

b1t’s legendary CT performance

b1t produced one of the most dominant halves of the tournament:

18–5 K-D on CT side

156.7 ADR

2.79 CT rating

Multiple multi-kills and 1v2 clutch wins

His performance shut down every G2 attempt and fueled NAVI’s historic comeback.

Aleksib: MR12 format keeps comebacks alive

After the match, NAVI captain Aleksib highlighted how the MR12 format enables dramatic momentum swings:

“All those last rounds of the half matter so much… you can always make a comeback in MR12.”

He also praised the team’s clutch impact and individual brilliance:

“We had a lot of individual brilliance in moments where we really needed it.”

The in-game leader singled out iM’s emotional and vocal presence during the comeback:

“It was very nice to see iM act this way. He was very vocal.”

G2’s tournament run ends after recovery attempt

G2’s elimination is particularly painful given their difficult path in Cluj-Napoca.

G2’s journey in Romania

Started 0-2 after losses to Vitality and PARIVISION

Recovered with wins over paiN and HEROIC

Reached the final decider match vs NAVI

Eliminated after losing two huge leads

The defeat highlights ongoing consistency issues that the team has been trying to solve in 2026.

Earlier this season, huNter- emphasized the importance of stability:

“I don’t expect 1.30 ratings suddenly — I just want more consistency.”

HeavyGod also made it clear the team’s ambitions go beyond playoff appearances:

“My focus is to win trophies.”

NAVI’s path to playoffs was far from easy

NAVI also faced setbacks earlier in the event:

Lost convincingly to MOUZ in the group stage

Fell 2-1 to The MongolZ

Dropped into the 2-2 decider match

This victory represents a major mental rebound for the squad heading into the playoffs.

Aleksib admitted NAVI still need improvement against elite teams:

“We still need to step up a notch against the top-five teams.”

Playoff bracket: NAVI vs MOUZ rematch confirmed

With the win, NAVI advance to the PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 playoffs and will face MOUZ in the quarter-finals at the BT Arena.

The matchup sets up a high-stakes rematch after MOUZ defeated NAVI earlier in the tournament.

Why this match matters for CS2 in 2026

This series showcased several major trends in the CS2 competitive scene:

• MR12 format increases comeback potential

• Momentum and economy control are more decisive than ever

• Individual star performances still decide elimination matches

NAVI’s comeback victory will likely be remembered as one of the most dramatic playoff-qualification matches of the year.