Road to EWC: March 2026

VALORANT: VCT Masters Santiago

At VCT Masters Santiago in Chile, Nongshim RedForce swept Paper Rex 3-0 in the Grand Final at Espacio Riesco, earning $350,000 and 6 VCT Points. The 12-team event brought together top squads from the Americas, EMEA, China, and Pacific regions, with Nongshim RedForce entering the playoffs directly after winning the Pacific Kickoff.

Once in the playoffs, Nongshim RedForce showcased dominance at every stage. They defeated Gentle Mates 2-0, edged G2 Esports 2-1, and beat NRG 2-0 in the Upper Bracket Final before capping their run with a 3-0 Grand Final sweep. Paper Rex, NRG, and G2 leave Santiago with valuable points and momentum as the field prepares for VCT Masters London and the 2026 Esports World Cup.

Fighting Games at DreamHack Birmingham

DreamHack Birmingham hosted premier fighting game tournaments alongside pivotal Trackmania and Call of Duty: Warzone qualifiers. ZJZ claimed the FATAL FURY title with a decisive Grand Final win over NAVI’s Luis Guadalupe “DarkAngel” Castillo. Gachikun overcame Chan “Micky” Pak-yin in a bracket reset to take the Street Fighter 6 crown. Both champions, along with their respective runners-up, have qualified for EWC 2026 in Riyadh.

The fighting game events also highlighted the depth of international talent. Goichi “GO1” Kishida, FATAL FURY: COTW champion at EWC 2025, pushed ZJZ to the limit before falling 3-2 in the Upper Bracket Final, while Micky’s initial bracket reset put pressure on Gachikun, only for him to respond and claim victory. Rematches between these top contenders are likely in Riyadh this summer.

Road to EWC: Qualifiers

Top Trackmania drivers descended on Birmingham to secure a berth at EWC 2026. Influential Clubs including Team Vitality, Team Falcons, and Team Liquid were represented. Thomas “Pac” Cole of Team Vitality secured one of nine Riyadh spots, with Carl-Antoni “Carl Jr.” Cloutier of Team Falcons finishing second. Other qualifiers included Twisted Minds, Gen.G, and Team Liquid.

Team Falcons captured first place in the COD: Warzone Resurgence Series, edging Twisted Minds by two points. Team Falcons, Virtus.pro, Los Corrillos, and Ravens Esports secured qualification for Riyadh, while Twisted Minds remained qualified from EWC 2025.

Notable Roster Changes

Weibo Gaming unveiled a new 2026 VALORANT roster with former Paper Rex star Aaron “mindfreak” Leonhart and coach Ji “meow” Dong‑jun, adding leadership and experience to their China‑based lineup. In Overwatch, Crazy Raccoon finalized its 2026 OWCS roster, bringing in Kim “vigilante” Joon and Jeong “Stalk3r” Hak‑yong to mix with returning talent.

Spacestation Gaming announced a revamped R6 roster, adding experienced players from top NA teams. Across Siege, other Clubs including Team Falcons and FURIA made March roster moves. Gen.G, Spacestation Gaming, FUT Esports, and other Clubs made roster moves during the RLCS mid‑season transfer window, reshaping lineups ahead of Split 2 of 2026.

March demonstrated that the Road to EWC 2026 is now live, competitive, and global. From VALORANT’s international showcase in Santiago to the multi-title action in Birmingham, Clubs and players have proven that every match counts, and the stage is set for intense competition leading into Riyadh.