Aug 18, 2026.
Week 6 of the Esports World Cup 2026 is officially under wraps. Champions were crowned in Chess, Rocket League, R6 Siege and PUBG Mobile, but the road to championship gold was anything but straightforward. From stunning comebacks and record-breaking performances to unexpected drama, Week 6 delivered another packed chapter in EWC history.
Group Stage and Playoffs
Three French representatives made headlines in Rocket League, delivering some unforgettable moments in front of the home crowd. Gentle Mates’ Archie Pickthall scored the fastest goal in EWC history against American club Five Fears, finding the net just one second into the match before Gentle Mates went on to claim the series.
The drama continued in the quarterfinals, where defending champions Karmine Corp faced hometown rivals Team Vitality. The French crowd turned out in force for the clash between two of the nation’s biggest Rocket League clubs, with Karmine Corp eventually edging Vitality 4-3 in a thrilling best-of-seven.
Third-place match
The final day of Chess at EWC 26 was overshadowed by controversy, as Team Falcons’ Alireza Firouzja withdrew from his series following a lengthy technical delay. After a string of uncharacteristic mistakes left him trailing 1-2, a technical issue delayed Game 4, prompting Firouzja to leave the stage and ultimately not return to finish the match. The win was awarded to his Team Falcons teammate Hikaru Nakamura via forfeit, bringing an unusual end to the series.
Playoffs
EWC 25 champions Team Secret entered EWC 26 following a major roster rebuild, with three of the five players from their championship lineup departing the organization. Team Secret turned to a new group of European players, but the revamped roster struggled early, finishing 10th in the European and MENA League Stage 1.
Few expected the new-look Team Secret to make much noise in Paris, but the roster quickly defied expectations by defeating Team Falcons in the Group Stage. The victory was particularly notable given Falcons had acquired one of Secret’s former stars, Marc “jume” Steinmann. The Cinderella run eventually came to an end in the quarterfinals, where Geekay Esports eliminated Secret. The new roster exceeded expectations, but ultimately fell short of matching last year’s championship run.
Grand Final
Tianba’s Zhang “Qzz” Qingbo was awarded the SONY MVP following the conclusion of the PMWC, but teammate Wang “MiLu” Bo also delivered a remarkable performance. MiLu was forced to leave the stage on a stretcher due to illness on Finals Day 1, but returned midway through Day 2 to help Tianba secure a strong finish. The team continued its resurgence on Day 3, ultimately finishing fifth
2026
Esports World Cup Trophy Award Ceremony crowns AG.AL
Thousands of competitors have traveled to the Esports World Cup 2026 in search of glory and millions in prize money, but in the end there could only be one winner of the Club Championship. The trophy award ceremony celebrated AG.AL as the Club Championship winner while honoring the achievements of each and every player involved.
2026
Notable Stories of EWC 26 Week 7
Week 7 of the Esports World Cup 2026 is officially in the books and with it, the EWC comes to a close. The final week saw champions crowned in Fortnite, Trackmania, CS2 and Crossfire, bringing one last wave of high-stakes action, dramatic finishes and standout performances. After seven weeks of competition, the Club Championships winner has been crowned, but let's not forget about all the action from this final week.
2026
CS2 at EWC 26: Spirit close out the event with a win
Team Spirit has defeated FUT Esports in the Grand Finals of Counter-Strike 2 at the Esports World Cup 2026. The finals reached their pinnacle at the Accor Arena, in Paris, France, marking the thrilling conclusion to seven-weeks of competition at EWC 26. Congratulations to Team Spirit.
2026
EWC 2026 Week 7 Champions Recap
Week 7 of the Esports World Cup 2026 saw the crowning of four new champions, in Fortnite, Crossfire, Trackmania, and Counter-Strike 2. The final week of the tournament also decided the Club Championship, where a new club was crowned for the first time in EWC history. Here’s a look back at every champion from EWC 26 Week 7.