Rocket League at EWC26 Champions: Falcons soar above the rest

Spacestation Gaming entered the Grand Final looking to secure another upset, but Team Falcons proved insurmountable from the opening kickoff. Game 1 initially suggested a close series was in store, with Falcons needing overtime to claim the win after SSG forced a late equalizer in regulation.

Falcons built on that momentum in Game 2, establishing an early 1-0 lead. SSG leveled the game with roughly a minute remaining, but Falcons responded immediately with two quick goals to secure a 3-1 victory. Game 3 was even more one-sided, as Falcons dominated the pitch and only conceded a late goal from SSG before closing out a convincing 4-1 win and reaching match point.

Facing elimination in Game 4, SSG applied heavy pressure early in search of an opening. Falcons’ defense stood firm, absorbing the onslaught without conceding. Once the initial storm passed, Falcons took control and scored three quick goals to complete the 4-0 sweep and lift the EWC 26 trophy.

A statement at every stage

Falcons’ path to the title was defined by control and confidence. The Saudi club went undefeated through the Group Stage, securing wins over R8 Esports and Gentle Mates. Gentle Mates threatened to mount a reverse sweep after falling 2-0 behind, but Falcons held their nerve to close out the series and preserve their unbeaten record.

The Playoffs brought a meeting with homegrown rivals Twisted Minds in the quarterfinals, where Falcons secured a 4-2 victory. That set up a high-stakes semifinal against defending champions Karmine Corp, but Falcons showed no signs of slowing down. The Saudi club silenced the French crowd with a dominant 4-0 sweep, booking its place in the Grand Final in emphatic fashion.

A dynasty of his own

Beyond the team’s dominant performance, the tournament delivered an incredible individual achievement for Samy “dralii” Hajji, who became a three-time EWC champion across three different rosters. After lifting the trophy with Team BDS in 2024 and Karmine Corp in 2025, dralii completed the three-peat with Team Falcons in 2026.

At the heart of Falcons’ championship run was Saleh “Rw9” Bakhashwin, whose stellar performance earned him the SONY MVP award and an additional $25,000 prize. The honor capped a historic tournament for Rw9 and his twin brother Yazid “Kiileerrz” Bakhashwin, whose chemistry once again proved to be one of the most formidable forces in Rocket League.

Club Championship points secured

By lifting the Rocket League trophy, Team Falcons earned the maximum 1,000 Club Championship points available, launching them back to the top of the overall leaderboard with the competition entering its final week. Spacestation Gaming may have fallen short of the title, but its runner-up finish marks the organization’s second top-eight finish at EWC 26, securing its place in the final Club Championship rankings.