It feels a little strange not to see the Spodek Arena on our screens this week. Tonight, the Quarter-Finals of the 2026 tournament get underway, but the action has shifted 80 kilometers east.
For the first time in over a decade, the “Hall of Heroes” has a new address. The 2026 edition has moved to the Tauron Arena in Kraków. But while the city has changed, the pressure hasn’t. Lifting this trophy remains one of the hardest tasks in the game. It is a necessary step if you want to “complete Counter-Strike.”
Before G2 takes on MOUZ and Aurora faces FURIA in tonight’s Quarter-Finals, let’s take a look back at the giants who built this legacy. From the “Virtus Plow” to the “Golden Hornets,” here is the complete history of IEM Katowice winners.
All IEM Winners by Year
| Year | Winner | Location |
| 2014 | Virtus.pro | Katowice (Spodek) |
| 2015 | Fnatic | Katowice (Spodek) |
| 2016 | Fnatic | Katowice (Spodek) |
| 2017 | Astralis | Katowice (Spodek) |
| 2018 | Fnatic | Katowice (Spodek) |
| 2019 | Astralis | Katowice (Spodek) |
| 2020 | NAVI | Katowice (Spodek) |
| 2021 | Gambit | Online (COVID-19) |
| 2022 | FaZe Clan | Katowice (Spodek) |
| 2023 | G2 Esports | Katowice (Spodek) |
| 2024 | Team Spirit | Katowice (Spodek) |
| 2025 | Team Vitality | Katowice (Spodek) |
The Hall of Heroes: A Deep Dive
2014: Virtus.pro
Roster: TaZ, NEO, pashaBiceps, Snax, byali
The Moment: The birth of the “Virtus Plow.” In front of a deafening home crowd, the Polish legends dismantled Ninjas in Pyjamas to win the ESL Major Series One. It wasn’t just a tournament win. It was a national event that put Katowice on the global esports map forever.
2015: Fnatic
Roster: flusha, JW, pronax, olofmeister, KRIMZ
The Moment: In the early days of their dynasty, Fnatic claimed their first Katowice trophy during another Major held at the Spodek. This victory cemented the Swedish roster as the undisputed kings of the era and proved that the Spodek was the proving ground for true legends.
2016: Fnatic
Roster: flusha, JW, dennis, olofmeister, KRIMZ
The Moment: Back-to-back champions. With dennis replacing pronax, Fnatic evolved into an even deadlier beast. They took down FalleN’s Luminosity Gaming in a thriller to become the first and only team to defend their Katowice title consecutively.
2017: Astralis
Roster: dev1ce, dupreeh, Xyp9x, gla1ve, Kjaerbye
The Moment: The “choke” narrative died here. After years of falling short in semi-finals, Astralis finally lifted the trophy. This wasn’t just a win. It was the prelude to the most dominant era in Counter-Strike history.
2018: Fnatic
Roster: flusha, JW, Golden, Lekr0, KRIMZ
The Moment: The “Last Dance” of the Swedes. Long past their prime and considered underdogs, Fnatic shocked the world to win a record third Katowice title. It remains one of the most romanticized runs in CS history, proving you can never count out flusha and JW in Poland.
2019: Astralis
Roster: dev1ce, dupreeh, Xyp9x, gla1ve, Magisk
The Moment: Total domination. Returning to Poland for another Major, Astralis were at the peak of their powers. They crushed ENCE in the final to secure their second Katowice trophy and third Major overall. This was Counter-Strike played to perfection.
2020: NAVI
Roster: s1mple, electroNic, Boombl4, Perfecto, flamie
The Moment: Before the world shut down, NAVI lit up the stage. This tournament showcased a terrifyingly efficient NAVI squad that swept G2 in the finals. It was a glimpse of the “Stockholm Major” form that would appear fully a year later.
2021: Gambit
Roster: nafany, sh1ro, interz, Ax1Le, HObbit
The Moment: The Online Kings. With the Spodek empty due to the pandemic, Gambit dominated the server from home. While they missed the roar of the crowd, their tactical prowess led by HObbit (a Major winner from 2017) was undeniable.
2022: FaZe Clan
Roster: broky, Twistzz, karrigan, ropz, rain, jks (stand-in)
The Moment: The miracle stand-in run. With rain and karrigan facing illness issues and jks stepping in last minute, FaZe pulled off the impossible. It was the first “Superteam” trophy for karrigan and the start of a year where they would win everything.
2023: G2 Esports
Roster: huNter-, NiKo, HooXi, m0NESY, jks
The Moment: The curse breaker. NiKo, one of the game’s greatest riflers, had lost multiple Katowice finals. In 2023, alongside the “Gigachad” IGL HooXi and the young prodigy m0NESY, he finally lifted the trophy. It also made jks the first player to win Katowice back-to-back on different teams.
2024: Team Spirit
Roster: chopper, magixx, zont1x, sh1ro, donk
The Moment: The arrival of the prodigy. A 17-year-old named donk didn’t just play his first tier-one LAN. He destroyed it. Posting stats never seen before in a Big Event, he led Team Spirit to a 3-0 victory over FaZe and signaled a terrifying new generation of talent.
2025: Team Vitality
Roster: apEX, flameZ, ZywOo, mezii, ropz
The Moment: The final piece of the puzzle.
After a massive roster shake-up that saw ropz join the French organization in January 2025, Vitality looked unstoppable. They swept the defending champions, Team Spirit, 3-0 in the Grand Final.
- The Narrative: This win finally gave in-game leader apEX the one trophy missing from his cabinet after a decade of chasing it.
- The Ropz Factor: Ropz secured his second Katowice title (his first was with FaZe in 2022), proving to be the catalyst Vitality needed to turn semi-final finishes into trophies.
- The MVP: ZywOo was his usual alien self, but it was the team’s cohesion that dismantled the “donk” hype train.
2026: The Battle Moves to Kraków
Tonight, the legacy continues in a new arena. The Quarter-Finals kick off at the Tauron Arena in Kraków, and the bracket is stacked:
- 15:45 CET: Aurora vs. FURIA
- 19:00 CET: G2 Esports vs. MOUZ
Waiting in the Semi-Finals are the titans: Team Spirit and Team Vitality. Will Vitality defend their crown in the new city, or will a new champion emerge from the smoke?
