IEM Krakow 2026 betting preview: Team Liquid vs NiP

Fariha Bhatti Published 27/01/2026

After an early exit from BLAST Bounty 2026 at the hands of Team Liquid, NiP will get a chance to respond in the team’s opening match at IEM Krakow 2026, and our betting preview breaks down how the match-up is shaping up for bettors looking to place informed wagers.

The opening matches at BLAST Bounty 2026 will feature several top CS2 teams chasing valuable Grand Slam points. While neither Ninjas in Pyjamas nor Team Liquid are currently in contention for the top of the standings, there is still plenty at stake.

After a disappointing 17th–32nd finish at BLAST Bounty 2026, NiP enter the match with a clear opportunity to redeem themselves and restore some confidence in their form. Team Liquid, on the other hand, will be looking to use this battle to push deeper into IEM Krakow 2026 and justify their current world ranking.

4.65 / 5.00

Welcome Bonus – 25 SC and 25K GC signup bonus Welcome Bonus 2026

Play now Stake.us Review

T&Cs apply, 18+

Liquid vs NiP match overview

• Tournament: IEM Krakow 2026
• Stage: Upper bracket, play-in
• Game: Counter-Strike 2
• Format: Best-of-three

Bettors are split between Ninjas in Pyjamas and Team Liquid, with NiP holding a slight edge due to Liquid’s recent dip in form. That said, our CS2 betting tip for the match leans toward Liquid as a value pick for bettors willing to take a measured risk in exchange for greater potential returns on a team with high potential.

Our Liquid vs NiP pick: Total maps to be under 2.5 @ 1.85.

Liquid vs NiP in-depth match analysis

NiP and Team Liquid did not face each other at any point in 2025, with their first meeting coming at BLAST Bounty 2026. That series ended in a 2–1 win for Liquid, who looked strong on their own map pick but dropped the ball on NiP’s choice.

That series was close enough to suggest it could have swung either way, particularly if star player Jonathan “EliGe” Jablonowski had not delivered such an outstanding individual performance, something Liquid has struggled to find at times during recent events.

Team Liquid players.

The narrow gap in the betting odds at IEM Krakow 2026 has more to do with Team Liquid’s recent slump than any clear improvement from NiP. The Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer-led roster exited BLAST Bounty 2026 early and posted similarly underwhelming results at both the StarLadder Budapest Major and at PGL Masters Bucharest. TL, meanwhile, has struggled to deliver convincing performances against higher-ranked opposition in its recent outings.

With that in mind, NiP and Liquid enter this play-in match-up on fairly even footing, leaving roster quality as the key separator. On that front, Team Liquid holds a clear edge if its players can play up to their potential, making them the more valuable pick for bettors. Although NiP are slight favorites on paper, the tilt presents an opportunity for bettors to chase upside without taking on significant risk.

Key stats

Liquid vs NiP betting odds snapshot

CS2 betting odds as of January 27, 2026, via Stake.

Liquid vs NiP picks and predictions

If Keith “NAF” Markovic and Guy “NertZ” Iluz can step up alongside EliGE, who appears to be in strong form, the matchup could quickly tilt in Team Liquid’s favor. With Kamil “siuhy” Szkaradek already having a read on NiP from BLAST Bounty 2026, Liquid should have enough tactical options to control the series and close it out efficiently.

For those looking to play it safe, NiP isn’t a bad pick, but its less attractive odds and lack of solid form makes it a tough play as far as our match preview is concerned.

Liquid vs NiP prediction

Our Liquid vs NiP prediction: Liquid to win 2-1.

Featured image credit: NiP 

Fariha Bhatti

About Fariha Bhatti

Fariha Bhatti is a long-time gaming writer who loves competitive FPS games and slots with particularly fun themes. She got her start playing classic games developed by SNK, from legendary fighting game series The King of Fighters to challenging platform franchise Metal Slug. She now spends most of her time playing Valorant and Counter-Strike 2 while working her way through new slot releases to find her next favorite. Fariha has been published at PCGamesN, TalkEsport and ONE Esports.

View full profile

Read Also

Counter-Strike

IEM Cologne Major 2026 CS2 Stage 3 Pick’Em Predictions Owen Harsono It’s that time of the year again, as the next Counter-Strike 2 Major is right around the corner. The IEM Cologne 2026 Major is set to start on June 2, meaning you still have some time to lock in your Pick’Em predictions. The Pick’Em Challenge is one of the most exciting parts of the CS2 Majors, as it allows you to test your knowledge and predict which teams make it ...

Counter-Strike

Team Spirit concede just 10 rounds in Stage 2 of the IEM Cologne Major Owen Harsono It was pretty weird seeing Team Spirit having to start the IEM Cologne Major from Stage 2, but they quickly proved why that was a mistake. With donk shooting on all fronts, the Eastern Europeans speed ran the competition to book their spot in Stage 3. With how they’ve been playing, it’s hard not to wonder whether they can actually win the entire thing. These boys can sometimes be known ...

Counter-Strike

BIG pull off 0-12 comeback to stay alive – IEM Cologne Major Stage 1 recap Owen Harsono We’ve just witnessed arguably the worst choke in Counter-Strike Major history, and we’re only on the first stage of the IEM Cologne Major. If you didn’t tune into the Stage 1 matches, here’s what you need to know heading into Stage 2. Many fans tend to underestimate Stage 1 teams for fair reasons, but some survivors in this tournament look extremely promising. Two Eastern European teams, BetBoom Team and B8, ...

Counter-Strike

Who will win the IEM Cologne Major 2026? Owen Harsono If you’re looking to play it safe and back one team at the Counter-Strike 2 IEM Cologne 2026 Major, traders prediction markets platforms have a clear frontrunner – it’s Team Vitality. But if it’s not meant to be, there are a few other candidates that could lift the trophy. Here’s what traders on Polymarket and Kalshi think. If you haven’t been watching CS2 this year and are only jumping on ...

Counter-Strike

The 10 best CS2 players who have never won a Major Owen Harsono In Counter-Strike, winning a Major immediately puts you into legend status. It’s an achievement that proves you won the game’s biggest trophy. However, there have been some really good players that could never get their hands on the biggest trophy that Counter-Strike esports has to offer. Here is WIN.gg's list of best CS2 players who have never won a Major. ScreaM is one of Counter-Strike's most famous players for one ...

Counter-Strike

IEM Cologne Major 2026: All the teams, favorites, and outright betting odds Owen Harsono Mark your calendars, as the IEM Cologne Major kicks off on June 2, 2026. We’re going to see the best teams in the world compete, but which ones are actually favored to take the title? This will be the first time in 10 years that IEM Cologne will return as a Counter-Strike Major, so the stakes this year are much higher than they’ve been in a decade. In this guide, ...

Esports Betting

All IEM Cologne winners and rosters in Counter-Strike history Owen Harsono IEM Cologne is one of Counter-Strike’s biggest events, happening every single year. Some seasons, the event is labeled as one of Valve’s two Counter-Strike Majors of the year, but if not, still stands as one of the big events every player chases to win. With the IEM Cologne 2026 Major right around the corner, let’s take a trip down memory lane and check out every single winner of the tournament, ...