NAVI’s Gritty Win Over PARIVISION Opens IEM Kraków 2026 Campaign

NAVI’s Gritty Win Over PARIVISION Opens IEM Kraków 2026 Campaign

Natus Vincere began their Intel Extreme Masters Kraków 2026 (IEM Kraków) run in dramatic fashion on January 31, seizing a hard-fought **2–1 victory over BLAST Bounty champions PARIVISION in the Stage 2 upper-bracket opener. 

The series was a physical and mental test for NAVI, coming after a difficult start to the 2026 season that left fans and analysts alike waiting for a resurgence from the legendary Ukrainian-based squad. 

Match Summary

The best-of-three encounter began on Dust2, PARIVISION’s map pick, where NAVI stormed out to a blistering 5-0 defensive lead early on. Although PARIVISION battled back — powered by a crucial 3-kill from Vladislav “xiELO” Lysov — NAVI’s experience showed through. The map ended 13-11 in NAVI’s favor after they denied the opponent a chance at overtime late in the second half. 

On Anubis, PARIVISION struck with strong coordination and tactical A-site hits, controlling most of the first half. NAVI struggled initially, but adjustments in the second half allowed them to regain momentum. PARIVISION fought all the way to overtime, with Andrey “BELCHONOKK” Yasinskiy making crucial plays — yet in the end, NAVI completed the comeback 19-16 thanks in part to retakes and disciplined utility usage. 

The decider on Ancient was more one-sided. Despite PARIVISION taking the pistol round on offense and maintaining early momentum, NAVI responded with a deep run of rounds that swung the map firmly in their favour. Drin “makazze” Shaqiri was exceptional, posting 137.5 ADR and leading the team to a comfortable 13-5 map win and a 2-1 series victory.

Key Performances and Context

This victory snapped PARIVISION’s recent unbeaten run — one that had seen them collect the BLAST Bounty Winter 2026 title, defeating top sides including Team Spirit, FURIA, and The Falcons and pushing them into the spotlight entering IEM Kraków. 

For NAVI, the win represents a crucial turnaround in 2026. The team entered the tournament as a direct invite thanks to their high global ranking but had struggled earlier in the year, including an underwhelming online performance at the BLAST Bounty season where they failed to advance past the first stage. 

Valeriy “b1t” Vakhovskiy also stood out for NAVI, posting the series’ highest ADR and consistently impacting rounds across all three maps. His performance was a clear reminder of his status as one of the game’s premier rifles. 

Tournament Structure and Implications

IEM Kraków 2026 features a GSL format group stage, with 16 teams split across two groups. All matches through the group stage are best-of-three, and the top three teams in each group advance to the playoffs. Group winners earn direct semifinal berths, while second and third place face off in the quarterfinals. 

With this win, NAVI progressed in the upper bracket of Group A and will face either Astralis or Team Spirit next for another shot at a playoff spot. PARIVISION, on the other hand, must regroup and take on the loser of that Astralis–Spirit matchup in the lower bracket to stay alive in the tournament. 

What This Means for Both Teams

• NAVI: After faltering earlier in the season, this victory could be a momentum-building moment. Their blend of experienced leadership from Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen and clutch firepower from b1t and makazze gave them a decisive edge when it mattered most.

• PARIVISION: Despite falling short, the team showed why they’ve been rising through the ranks in 2026. Their strong results leading up to Kraków, including taking down respected opposition at BLAST Bounty, suggest this loss is more of a stepping stone than a setback. 

Wider Event Highlights

IEM Kraków has already seen major results: Danes Astralis kicked off their run with a solid 2–0 victory over paiN, and other squads such as FUT Esports have made surprising impacts in Stage 1. 

As the tournament progresses into Stage 2 and beyond, NAVI’s resurgence may prove pivotal — not just for their placement here, but for confidence and form leading into other 2026 events on the competitive CS2 calendar.