Gaming Tournament Kicks Off in Paris

The PUBG tournament at the Esports World Cup 2026 kicked off in Paris on July 21, drawing 24 teams to compete for a $2,025,000 prize pool.

Group Stage Highlights and Advancement

Teams were divided into three groups of eight, each playing a cross‑group round‑robin schedule that yielded 12 matches per squad. The stage ran through July 23, delivering a total of 18 matches per day.

Made in Thailand emerged as the clear leader, amassing 119 points across the Group Stage. T1 followed with 110 points, while Natus Vincere secured third place at 93. The top eight advancing teams were Made in Thailand, T1, Natus Vincere, Twisted Minds, Team Falcons, Virtus.pro, 17 Gaming and GAM Esports.

Eight squads fell short of the cut. JD Gaming, SOOPers, R8 Esports, Sharper Esports, Team Nemesis, TYLOO, Petrichor Road and Four Angry Men were eliminated after the initial phase.

The Group Stage also determined the distribution of fixed payouts for those eight teams, ranging from $17,000 for JD Gaming to $10,000 for Four Angry Men.

Grand Finals Format and Prize Structure

From July 24 to 26, the remaining 16 squads entered the Grand Finals, still playing the Squads TPP mode on PC. Each day featured six matches, totalling 18 contests across the final stretch.

The championship hinges on the “Smash Rule” applied on Day 3. If a match‑point eligible team clinches a Chicken Dinner, it instantly secures the title. Otherwise, the team with the highest cumulative points after all matches wins.

Prize money is allocated based on final placement. First place receives $650,000 and 1,000 EWC Club Points; second place gets $300,000 and 750 points; third place earns $200,000 and 500 points. The payout scales down to $20,000 for the sixteenth‑place finisher. An MVP Award adds a $25,000 bonus for the standout player.

Broadcast Details and Viewer Guidance

Fans can watch the event live on the official PUBG Esports Twitch and YouTube channels. Match times follow the Paris schedule, so viewers should adjust for local time zones.

Fans anticipate intense matches.

As the Grand Finals progress, several storylines remain open. Observers are watching to see whether the squad can translate its Group Stage dominance into a championship, especially given the points reset that levels the field among the 16 finalists.

The impact of the Smash Rule also looms large. A single Chicken Dinner could overturn the standings, making every match on Day 3 a potential title‑decider.

While the tournament’s structure mirrors past esports championships, the scale of the prize pool and the inclusion of the Smash Rule add a fresh layer of strategic depth. In previous World Cup editions, teams often relied on steady point accumulation, but this year’s rule may encourage more aggressive play late in the competition.

As of now, the Grand Finals results have not been published. Updates are expected through July 26, when the final placements and the $650,000 top prize winner will be announced.