Counter-Strike 2 analyst Jakob 'Pimp' Winneche reacted to Aurora Gaming's elimination from IEM Krakow 2026, sharing his assessment on his X account shortly after the match.
Winneche said that, in their current form, Aurora do not measure up to a team that should be reaching the playoffs of IEM Krakow 2026. He emphasized that he did not intend to downplay their tournament victories or the route they took to reach this stage, but pointed out that, when evaluating their performances over the past six months, they remain far from the required level.
He added that a return to good form is not impossible for the squad, but warned that significant work will be needed for them to lift their level and compete consistently with top teams.
On the evening of February 6, Aurora Gaming lost 0–2 to FURIA Esports in the quarterfinals of IEM Krakow 2026. The defeat eliminated the Turkish organization from the event, leaving them in a shared fifth–sixth place and earning $40,000 in prize money.
IEM Krakow 2026 is being held in Poland from January 28 to February 8. The tournament features a $1,000,000 prize pool, with the champion set to receive $400,000. Winneche's comments underline that despite recent successes Aurora will need substantial improvements to become a regular threat at events of this level.