BC.Game and BIG Advance to EWC Open Qualifier Playoffs

The first eight teams have locked in their places in the playoff bracket at the Esports World Cup 2026 open qualifier, a massive LAN event taking place in Paris. After two rapid best-of-three series, a group of favorites navigated the initial rounds successfully, while one notable upset reshaped a group’s trajectory.

Among the squads advancing is BC.Game, the team featuring Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev. Their path was not entirely smooth, as they dropped their opening map on Nuke to BASEMENT BOYS before recovering to win the series 2-1. They then found a more straightforward contest against the recently-signed 1win roster to confirm their progression.

The qualifier, which features 64 teams competing on LAN, began roughly an hour behind schedule due to technical issues but has proceeded without further disruption since getting underway. Four coveted spots at the main event, which carries a two-million-dollar prize pool, are up for grabs, alongside an additional one hundred thousand dollars distributed among the teams placing fifth through sixteenth in this qualifying stage.

The tournament structure divides the 64 participants into groups, with the initial phase consisting of best-of-three matches. The first set of groups, numbered one through eight, completed their opening two rounds, producing the first eight teams to reach the 32-team playoff bracket. The day’s action saw most of the expected names advance, though one result stood out as a significant surprise.

Iberian Soul, competing once again under their original banner after their release from the Gentle Mates organization, suffered a defeat at the hands of a team called 6666 in the very first round. This loss did not eliminate them, however. They will have an opportunity to avenge the result on Saturday in the group’s deciding match, a path opened up because fnatic topped the group in the other side of the bracket.

The competition for the four main event berths remains intense, with the playoff bracket now beginning to take shape. The financial incentives are substantial, with the main event’s two-million-dollar prize pool representing a major target for every organization present in Paris.

The Eight Teams Securing Early Playoff Berths

The conclusion of the first two rounds in Groups one through eight produced a clear list of eight teams who successfully navigated their initial challenges. These squads now move into the 32-team playoff bracket, where the competition will intensify as the field narrows toward the four available main event slots.

BC.Game suffered defeat to BASEMENT BOYS on Nuke in their first series, but won 2-1. Their subsequent victory against the recently-signed 1win squad was a more controlled affair that secured their place in the next phase.

BIG was another prominent organization to emerge from the early rounds without major difficulty, joining the list of qualified teams. Elsewhere, favorites ruled the roost, with the Iberian Soul defeat to 6666 standing as the primary exception to the rule.

Another round of best-of-threes, featuring the likes of 100 Thieves and Liquid, kick off shortly in Groups 9-16.

• The qualifier is a 64-team LAN event held in Paris, with four spots available at the two-million-dollar main event.
• An additional one hundred thousand dollars is split among the teams that finish between fifth and sixteenth place in the qualifier.
• The event started approximately one hour late because of technical issues but has run smoothly since then.
• Iberian Soul, back under their original name after leaving Gentle Mates, lost to 6666 in the first round but can still advance through Saturday’s decider match.

With the first eight playoff participants confirmed, attention shifted to the remaining groups and the unfolding schedule. The structure of the qualifier means that every series carries significant weight, both for the immediate goal of reaching the playoffs and for the larger objective of claiming one of the four main event invitations.

Iberian Soul’s loss to 6666 was described as the biggest upset of the day. Their upcoming decider match on Saturday represents a direct chance to overturn that result, with fnatic having already secured the top position in that particular group.

Schedule and Remaining Contenders

The first eight groups completed their opening two rounds, yielding the eight playoff-bound teams. The second set of groups, numbered nine through sixteen, were preparing to begin their matches as the first phase concluded.

Among the notable organizations yet to play their opening series were 100 Thieves and Liquid. Their entry into the tournament added further depth to a field already stacked with talent from multiple regions.

The playoff bracket, once fully populated with 32 teams, will represent the final stage before the main event invitations are distributed. The combination of the substantial prize pool and the prestige of qualifying for the Esports World Cup main event ensures that every remaining match will be fiercely contested.

The Esports World Cup 2026 open qualifier in Paris has delivered a compelling opening day, with eight teams already securing their places in the 32-team playoff bracket. The combination of favorite victories and the Iberian Soul upset has set up an intriguing weekend of Counter-Strike, with Saturday’s decider matches promising to add further drama to the proceedings.

As the remaining groups begin their campaigns, the path to the two-million-dollar main event remains wide open. The qualifier’s structure ensures that every match carries consequences, and the early technical delays have given way to a smoothly running tournament that will continue to narrow the field in the coming days.