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IEM Kraków 2026
- Step 1 – Select 8 to advance from the Play-In
- Step 2 – Pick 6 to qualify from the Group Stage
- Step 3 – Choose Finalists & Winner
or to play
How to Take Part in IEM Kraków 2026 on MelBet Pick’em
One of the first S-tier CS2 tournaments of 2026 is already upon us! Yes, we’re talking about Intel Extreme Masters Kraków 2026. Formerly known as IEM Katowice, the iconic tournament series has been held in Katowice since the days of CS:GO. However, starting from 2026, the tournament will officially move to Kraków, maintaining its place on the ESL Pro Tour calendar and its status as one of the most prestigious events of the year.
It’s a new arena in a new city, but it’s still a million-dollar prize tournament, and the level of event management remains the same. The tournament will feature 24 of the world’s best teams. However, instead of just watching your favourite team, you can make it more exciting with our CS2 Pick’em Challenge. Choose the winning teams in the IEM Kraków 2026 simulator bracket, take a themed quiz, and claim valuable prizes!
Here is how to participate in the IEM Kraków 2026 on MelBet Pick’em:
You must have an account on the official MelBet Mongolia website to participate in CS2 Pick’em. Use this link to create an account in just a few minutes. MelBet offers several registration methods to help you sign up quickly. So you can choose the one that’s most convenient for you.
After signing up, you must log in to your MelBet account and fill in all your personal information. This is one of the requirements to participate. We need this information so we can contact you if you win. After filling in your details, copy your MelBet ID on the same page. You’ll need this 10-digit code to register for the next step.
Now it’s time to create an account on the free betting platform, pickem-mongolia.com. To do this, go to the website and click the “Register” button at the top right side of the screen. This will open a registration form where you’ll need to enter a valid email address and your MelBet ID obtained from the previous step.
Before submitting the form, you must also confirm that you have read the Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions, and that you are at least 21 years old. You will receive MelBet Pick’em registration confirmation via the email address you provided. So please make sure you’ve filled out everything correctly.
Once you finish registering, log in to your account to start participating! You’ll find the 2026 tournament cards on the main page. Select Intel Extreme Masters Kraków 2026 and begin exploring the CS2 tournament.
First, evaluate all the participating CS2 teams and their rosters. You can click on each team to read a team overview and view statistics and cfg for each player. After that, familiarize yourself with the tournament format and other necessary information, and then proceed to the IEM Kraków simulator bracket.
In our simulator IEM Kraków 2026 CS2 Pick’em bracket, you need to choose which esports teams will advance from one stage to the next, including picking the winner. You’ll receive points for each team you guess correctly, which will subsequently determine your chances of winning prizes.
You can earn up to 28 points for making predictions in the IEM Kraków 2026 simulator bracket. You can find a detailed breakdown of points for each stage on the CS2 Pick’em IEM Kraków 2026 rules page.
Forecasting is not an easy task. To ensure everyone has a chance to participate in the giveaway, we offer a quiz with the opportunity to earn extra points. The questions range from the history of IEM Kraków to questions about CS2, the participating teams, and even our simulator!
The IEM Kraków 2026 quiz is divided into four difficulty levels. Each level contains five questions, and you must answer each question within 10 seconds. You can earn a total of 50 points across all levels of this MelBet quiz. You’ll find the breakdown of each level on the tournament rules page.
After the IEM Kraków 2026 tournament grand final, our team will begin counting the scores of all CS2 Pick’em Challenge participants immediately. This process typically takes up to 14 days. Once we finish counting, we will post the live stream date on the official MelBet Mongolia Facebook page. This winner will be determined using random.org via this live stream.
Participants who score between 5 and 24 points have a chance to win prizes from the Silver Giveaway. On the other hand, those who score 25 or more points are eligible to participate in the Golden Giveaway to win the grand prize of a PlayStation 5! You can find the full list of prizes on this page.
IEM Kraków 2026 Teams
Twenty-four teams have been invited to the IEM Kraków 2026 CS2 tournament. All teams received their spots based solely on the Valve Regional Standings (VRS) rankings as of January 5, 2026.
Unlike the previous StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, the Kraków tournament does not protect against the “dominance” of one region. The standard global VRS rankings are used, with no regional quotas. This means the participating teams are selected solely on their positions in the overall world rankings.
The full list of CS2 teams and rosters is presented below. Please note that the first 8 teams will participate directly from the Group Stage, while the remaining 16 will start from the Play-In.
| Standing | Team/Country | Roster | VRS |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
yuurih
KSCERATO
FalleN
molodoy
YEKINDAR
|
1995 | |
|
2
|
apEX
ZywOo
flameZ
mezii
ropz
|
1986 | |
|
3
|
NiKo
TeSeS
kyxsan
m0NESY
kyousuke
|
1892 | |
|
4
|
magixx
zont1x
donk
sh1ro
tN1R
|
1849 | |
|
5
|
b1t
Aleksib
iM
w0nderful
makazze
|
1848 | |
|
6
|
torzsi
xertioN
Jimpphat
Brollan
Spinx
|
1841 | |
|
7
|
broky
karrigan
frozen
jcobbb
Twistzz
|
1803 | |
|
8
|
bLitz
Techno4K
910
mzinho
cobrazera
|
1786 | |
|
9
|
XANTARES
MAJ3R
Wicadia
woxic
soulfly
|
1721 | |
|
10
|
npl
esenthial
headtr1ck
alex666
kensizor
|
1713 | |
|
11
|
latto
dumau
saadzin
n1ssim
lux
|
1665 | |
|
12
|
huNter-
malbsMd
HeavyGod
SunPayus
matys
|
1663 | |
|
13
|
NAF
ultimate
NertZ
siuhy
EliGE
|
1620 | |
|
14
|
Lucky
Ex3rcice
Maka
Graviti
bodyy
|
1610 | |
|
15
|
Staehr
jabbi
HooXi
phzy
ryu
|
1592 | |
|
16
|
BELCHONOKK
Jame
nota
xiELO
zweih
|
1571 | |
|
17
|
xfl0ud
nilo
Alkaren
Chr1zN
susp
|
1566 | |
|
18
|
biguzera
nqz
snow
piriajr
v$m
|
1559 | |
|
19
|
dem0n
Krabeni
cmtry
dziugss
lauNX
|
1559 | |
|
20
|
r1nkle
sjuush
Snappi
xKacpersky
cairne
|
1546 | |
|
21
|
Passion UA
Ukraine
|
Kvem
JT
Grim
hallzerk
nicx
|
1546 |
|
23
|
oSee
nitr0
Jeorge
br0
Sonic
|
1489 | |
|
24
|
Tauson
PR
REZ
hypex
Snax
|
1485 | |
|
92
|
BC.Game Esports
Portugal
|
s1mple
electronic
MUTiRiS
krazy
aragornN
|
976 |
Brazil 
Europe 
Russia 
Mongolia 
Turkey 
Netherlands 
France 
Denmark 
Sweden 
United States 
IEM Kraków 2026 MelBet Pick’em Challenge Prizes
For the first MelBet Pick’em Challenge of 2026, we have prepared prizes for 15 winners. Every participant from Mongolia who makes predictions for IEM Kraków 2026 has a chance to win one of them, and all of this comes with free participation. The main prize this time is the Sony PlayStation 5 Slim Digital Edition, but the other prizes are also worth your attention:
5+ points
25+ points
Make Your Prediction on IEM Kraków 2026 and Win with MelBet
Spectating can be fun, but even better is actively participating in IEM Kraków Pick'em and getting a chance to win prizes! Simply register on our MelBet platforms, fill out the CS2 tournament bracket in the IEM Kraków 2026 simulator, and see how accurate your predictions are. Additionally, take the CS quiz to increase your chances of winning prizes. Missing even one point could cost you a valuable prize!
For those who find the IEM Kraków 2026 simulator insufficient for a truly immersive experience, there are even more interesting options. You can bet on the tournament on the MelBet international betting platform. It offers a wide range of betting options on CS2 IEM Kraków 2026. You can bet on classic markets, exact scores, map bets, and even advanced player and individual statistics. You’ll find all of these markets both on the website and in the MelBet app. If you haven’t registered yet, use the MelBet promo code to sign up and start betting with a 50% bonus!
IEM Kraków 2026 – A Legendary Tournament in a New City
The Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Kraków 2026 tournament is a reboot of the premier winter Counter-Strike 2 event. It’s an event that will determine the favorites for the next major tournaments of the season.
The authorities decided to move from Katowice in 2026 to expand infrastructure and accommodate a wider audience. With a greater capacity and more modern facilities than the traditional Spodek Arena in Katowice, the Playoffs will now be held at the TAURON Arena Kraków. This will help ESL accommodate more spectators through an improved fan zone and continue the full development of the offline format!
While the IEM Kraków 2026 tournament is an evolution of IEM Katowice, the setting is more suitable. The tournament retains its competitiveness, prestige, and history while adapting to a new audience, the needs of CS2, and commercial partners. The tournament remains a test of each team’s championship ambitions, while the spectators take a step toward a larger, more intense esports event.
| Game | Counter-Strike 2 |
|---|---|
| Organizer | ESL Gaming GmbH |
| Type | Offline |
| Location | Kraków, Poland |
| Venue | TAURON Arena Kraków (Playoffs & Finals) |
| Dates | Jan 28 – Feb 08 2026 |
| Prize Pool | $1,000,000 |
| Teams | 24 |
| Qualification System | Valve Regional Standings (VRS), January 5, 2026 |
| Tier | S-Tier |
| Previous Tournament | IEM Chengdu 2025 – FURIA |
| Map Pool | Ancient • Dust II • Inferno • Mirage • Nuke • Overpass • Train |
Intel Extreme Masters Kraków 2026 Format
The IEM Kraków 2026 format retains the classic Intel Extreme Masters CS2 tournament structure. The event is divided into three consecutive stages, and teams are initially divided into two groups. The first group (16 teams) will begin participating in the Play-In Stage, while the remaining eight teams will join in the Group Stage.
Here is a table with a more detailed breakdown of the IEM Kraków 2026 format:
| Stage | Format | Match Type | Advances |
|---|---|---|---|
| Play-In | Double-Elimination bracket | All matches – Bo3 | Top 8 → Group Stage |
| Group Stage | Two GSL Groups (Double-Elimination), 8 teams per group | All matches – Bo3 | Group Winners → Semifinals Group Runners-up → Quarterfinals (High Seeds) 3rd Place → Quarterfinals (Low Seeds) |
| Playoffs | Single-Elimination bracket | Bo3 Grand Final – Bo5 |
Winners advance |
IEM Kraków 2026 Prize Pool
The confirmed official prize pool for the IEM Kraków tournament is $1,000,000. While the winning team will take home a whopping $400,000, teams eliminated in the first stage will receive consolation money.
The table below presents a full breakdown of the CS2 IEM Kraków 2026 prize pool.
| Place | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|
| 1st | $400,000 |
| 2nd | $180,000 |
| 3rd | $100,000 |
| 4th | $60,000 |
| 5th – 6th | $40,000 |
| 7th – 8th | $24,000 |
| 9th – 12th | $16,000 |
| 13th – 16th | $10,000 |
| 17th – 20th | $4,500 |
| 21st – 24th | $2,500 |
Conclusion
The first match of the IEM Kraków 2026 tournament is just around the corner. Don’t miss your chance to take part by making your own predictions in the IEM Kraków 2026 simulator and taking the quiz to win a PlayStation 5!
Participating is free! All you need to do is register on the MelBet betting site and the MelBet Pick’em platform for a chance to win one of the prizes. Prove your knowledge of CS2 and esports teams better than the rest of the MelBet Pick’em Challenge!
FAQ
Anyone 21 or older who has registered with the MelBet betting site and MelBet Pick’em website can participate in the IEM Kraków 2026 CS2 Pick’em. Taking part does not require any prior knowledge. The challenge is open to both experienced CS2 fans and viewers who are new to the scene.
Yes, you need a MelBet account to participate in the Pick’em Challenge. The account is used to identify the participant on the MelBet Pick’em platform, link results, and distribute prizes. Therefore, you cannot register on the pickem-mongolia.com platform without a MelBet account.
The IEM Kraków 2026 Pick’em Challenge is divided into three stages that mirror the actual tournament format. At the Play-In stage, you must select 8 teams that you believe will advance to the next stage. The group stage requires you to select 6 teams to advance to the playoffs. Finally, you need to choose the two finalists, the winner of the tournament, and the team that wins the third place match in the playoffs stage.
The IEM Kraków 2026 simulator bracket closes 30 minutes before the first match of the respective stage begins. You cannot change your team once you submit. On the other hand, the IEM Kraków 2026 CS2 quiz remains available until the final day of the tournament, allowing you to earn additional points even after the bracket closes.
We award points for each correct prediction throughout the tournament. The participant will receive a fixed number of points if their chosen team advances to the next stage of the IEM Kraków tournament. We award more points for correct predictions in the later stages of the tournament. Participants will find the exact number of points awarded at each stage in the official rules of the IEM Kraków 2026 Pick’em Challenge.
You can earn a maximum of 28 points for making predictions in the IEM Kraków 2026 simulator. You may further increase your final score by 50 additional points by completing a themed CS2 quiz. This allows you to claim a maximum of 78 points.
Once the IEM Kraków 2026 Grand Final concludes, we’ll begin calculating the official results, which will last up to 14 days. The points each participant earns from making predictions and completing the quiz are totalled, and participants are divided into prize categories. We determine the winners randomly using random.org by holding a live stream. This helps to ensure fairness and transparency. Participants will find the broadcast date and list of winners published on the official MelBet Mongolia Facebook page.
