PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS at EWC 26 Champions: Virtus.pro endure onslaught

The foundations of Virtus.pro’s championship run were laid earlier in the week with a strong showing in the Group Stage, highlighted by the AvsB matchup. The team truly hit its stride in the Day 2 AvsC clash, finishing atop the standings after opening with a Chicken Dinner and a tournament-high 17 kills in Game 1 to secure a place in the Finals.

Single-day dominance

Virtus.pro carried that momentum into Day 1 of the Finals, delivering one of the most dominant single-day performances of the tournament. They opened with back-to-back second-place finishes and 16 combined kills before slowing slightly with a sixth-place finish and four kills in Game 3. From there, Virtus.pro closed the day in emphatic fashion, claiming Chicken Dinners in Games 4 and 6, including a Finals-high 15-kill performance in a single match.

That remarkable opening day gave Virtus.pro a commanding lead with 91 points, but it also put a target on their back. On Day 2, Team Falcons, Natus Vincere, and The Vicious Esports focused on keeping Virtus.pro in check, limiting them for much of the day. Virtus.pro failed to finish higher than 10th place through the first five games.

Refusing to let the field close the gap, Virtus.pro responded with a Chicken Dinner and 14 kills in the final game of Day 2, extending their advantage to nearly 30 points with 126 total. That result set the Smash Rule Match Point at 136 points.

Virtus.pro wasted little time on the final day, reaching Match Point after just a single game. From there, the pressure shifted to the rest of the lobby, who needed to deny Virtus.pro a Chicken Dinner to keep the championship race alive

An insurmountable lead

Natus Vincere, in particular, mounted an impressive charge, closing the gap to Match Point to within striking distance. But by the end of Game 17, the championship was effectively decided. Virtus.pro had reached 157 points, while no other team had managed to surpass 126, leaving the rest of the field without a realistic path to catch them.

Even an early elimination in the final game, bringing their Finals total to 159 points, could not stop Virtus.pro, who lifted the trophy after all 18 games were complete. The victory earned the team $650,000 and 1,000 Club Championship points, bringing Virtus.pro to 1,950 total points and moving the club into contention near the top of the Club Championship standings.

Virtus.pro’s Nino "NIXZYEE" Mikec was selected as the Sony MVP and received a $25,000 prize, contributing 33 kills, 32 knockdowns throughout the tournament. Receiving his award, NIXZYEE shared a simple sentiment: “The grind pays off.”

Club Championship points secured

The victory gives Virtus.pro their first Esports World Cup 2026 title.

The battle for the remaining podium places came down to the final match. The Vicious Esports vaulted from sixth to second with a standout performance in the closing game, securing the runner-up finish. The result earned the team $300,000 in prize money and 750 Club Championship points.

Natus Vincere finished third after narrowly missing out on second place. The podium finish earned the team $200,000 and extended its lead atop the Club Championship standings to 2,250 points.

Team Falcons placed fourth, picking up 300 Club Championship points and $200,000 in prize money. They remain fifth in the Club Championship standings.

Team Vitality rounded out the top five, a result that strengthened their grip on third place in the Club Championship standings and pushed AG.AL down in the rankings.