Four Must-Watch Players in Week 1 of EWC 26

Dambi, Nongshim Redforce - VALORANT at EWC 26

Lee "Dambi" Hyuk-kyu burst onto the international stage at VALORANT Masters Santiago 2026, earning MVP honors as Nongshim RedForce swept Paper Rex 3-0 in the Grand Final. It was the defining moment of the young star's career, but Nongshim has struggled to build on that success. The Korean squad fell to DRX in the VCT Pacific Stage 1 playoffs and finished well short of the podium, leaving questions about whether its Masters title marked the start of a new contender or a brief flash of brilliance. The Esports World Cup offers Dambi and Nongshim their biggest chance yet to prove that Santiago was no fluke.

Blinkzr, Sentinels - ALGS at EWC 26

Miguel "Blinkzr" Quiles enters the Esports World Cup as the reigning ALGS Champion and the MVP of the championship series in Sapporo. Despite reaching the pinnacle of Apex Legends, he'll be competing under a new banner after Sentinels signed Blinkzr and his American teammates in April 2026. The Esports World Cup presents an opportunity to validate one of the biggest roster moves of the year and make history in the process. A victory would make Blinkzr the first player to capture both the ALGS Championship and the Esports World Cup in consecutive premier international events.

Xiao Hai, Team Falcons - FATAL FURY: Cotw at EWC 26

Zeng "Xiao Hai" Zhuojun has accomplished nearly everything there is to achieve in the first year of FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves. The Chinese legend claimed Evolution Championship Series titles in Las Vegas, France and Japan while dominating premier events such as SNK Championship Series 2025 and CEO 2025. Yet one prize has continued to elude him. Xiao Hai fell just short of the FATAL FURY: Cotw Esports World Cup title in 2025, finishing runner-up to Goichi "GO1" Kish in the Grand Final. Now, with another year of experience in SNK's rebooted fighter and an already glittering résumé, Paris offers Xiao Hai the opportunity to capture the one major championship still missing from his collection.

Collapse, Team Spirit - Dota 2 at EWC 26

Magomed "Collapse" Khalilov is one of the most decorated offlaners in Dota 2 history. As a cornerstone of Team Spirit's championship-winning rosters, Collapse has built a reputation as one of the game's most reliable performers on the biggest stages. After helping Team Spirit claim the Esports World Cup 2025 title, the two-time The International champion returns to defend the organization's crown in Paris. Team Spirit's road to another championship has not been without challenges, with the squad finishing outside the top four at The International 2025. Now, Collapse will look to lead Team Spirit back to the top and prove they remain the world's best Dota 2 team.