Aug 10, 2026.
Week 5 of the Esports World Cup 2026 is officially in the books, with three champions crowned across TEKKEN 8, Honor of Kings and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. From dominant championship runs to unforgettable Cinderella stories, each title delivered its own path to glory. Here’s a look at the three new champions who emerged from Week 5.
Back-to-back EWC Championships
OpTic Gaming claimed their second consecutive EWC championship with a definitive 5-3 victory over Team Heretics in a thrilling Grand Final. The title comes just one month after OpTic fell short in the Call of Duty League Grand Final in Las Vegas, making their resilient run in Paris all the more impressive. Anthony “Shotzzy” Cuevas-Castro also earned his second consecutive EWC MVP award, adding another prestigious accolade to the résumé of one of OpTic’s longest-tenured stars.
A new chapter for China
Paris Expo Porte de Versailles set the stage for a regional showdown between two powerhouse rivals, with Kuaishou Gaming enduring a grueling seven-game series against AG.AL to be crowned KWC champions. Despite the stands being packed with AG.AL supporters, KSG held their nerve to defeat the reigning champions and claim the title. The series went the distance, with a final blind draft determining the winner in a nail-biting finish that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very end.
An Underdog Story For The History Books
AG.AL’s Khawaja “M. Zubair” made history by claiming the TEKKEN 8 EWC championship trophy with a 5-0 sweep of accomplished South Korean competitor Yoon “LowHigh” Sun-woong in the Grand Final. A virtually unknown competitor in the TEKKEN 8 scene before the tournament, Zubair fought his way into the main event through the Last Chance Qualifier before embarking on a generational run that left the audience in awe.
His most notable opponent was EVO 26 Grand Champion Arslan Ash, who Zubair defeated not once, but twice during the tournament. The first victory stunned the TEKKEN community, while his semifinal rematch with Ash produced an incredible reverse sweep that sent Zubair into the Grand Final with all the momentum behind him. Along the way, he became one of the elite competitors to earn the Jafonso Award, given exclusively to champions who began their EWC run in the LCQ.
2026
Rocket League at EWC26 Champions: Falcons soar above the rest
Team Falcons claimed a dominant Grand Final victory in Rocket League at EWC 26, sweeping Spacestation Gaming 4-0. The Saudi club’s star-studded lineup of twin brothers Yazid “Kiileerrz” Bakhashwin and Saleh “Rw9” Bakhashwin alongside Samy “dralii” Hajji took home the $400,000 first prize and 1,000 Club Championship points. Congratulations to Team Falcons.
2026
PMWC at EWC 26: S2G Esports Weathers the Storm
S2G Esports held on to claim victory after a marathon run of matches at the PUBG Mobile World Cup at Esports World Cup 2026. The Turkish organization reached Smash Rule match point after 16 games but could not immediately close out the tournament. Instead, S2G’s consistency and points total ultimately secured the championship. Congratulations to S2G Esports on the victory.
2026
Chess at EWC 26 Champion: Carlsen does it again
Magnus Carlsen proved his dominance over international chess once again, sweeping the Grand Final against Denis Lazavik to defend his title in Chess at EWC 26. Delivering an undefeated campaign across the entire tournament, the Norwegian grandmaster took home the $250,000 first prize while also securing 1,000 crucial Club Championship points for Team Liquid. Congratulations to Magnus Carlsen and Team Liquid on another historic EWC title.
2026
EWC 26 Fan Fest Week 5 Recap
Week 5 brought another wave of action to the Esports World Cup 2026, with Fan Fest once again serving as a meeting point for creators, developers, esports clubs and fans. From co-streams and player appearances to community events and hands-on experiences, Fan Fest continued to bring the wider gaming community into the heart of EWC.
choose language
© 2026 Esports World Cup All rights reserved.
