Prestige Stuns Metizport as EWC Qualifier Playoff Field Takes Shape
SINNERS and Sashi are among eight teams that secured spots in the single-elimination playoff bracket at the Esports World Cup 2026 Open Qualifier following decider match victories in the initial group stage phase.
The qualification push saw several notable recoveries across the bracket, including SINNERS rebounding from a 13-0 blowout loss against K27 in their winners match to deliver a clean 2-0 sweep over Dark Tigre. Elsewhere, Casper ‘cadiaN’ Møller’s OG squad advanced with a straightforward win against Vael, while JiJieHao edged past the newly reformed Sangal lineup in a tightly contested series.
Metizport Stumbled as Prestige and Lower-Tier Squads Surge
The round’s primary upset came at the hands of Kristjan ‘fejtZ’ Allsaar and Prestige, who eliminated Metizport in a three-map series. Prestige recovered from an opening 13-2 defeat on Ancient to take consecutive map wins on Inferno and Nuke. Phantom completed the initial set of group deciders with a victory over levelONE, locking in their spot in the bracket alongside Eternal Fire and Acend.
Teams Advancing from Groups 9–16 Deciders:
- SINNERS – Defeated Dark Tigre 2-0
- Sashi – Advanced through Group Decider
- Prestige – Defeated Metizport 2-1
- OG – Defeated Vael 2-0
- JiJieHao – Defeated Sangal
- Eternal Fire – Advanced through Group Decider
- Acend – Advanced through Group Decider
- Phantom – Defeated levelONE
Remaining Groups Look to Complete Playoff Field
With eight teams already set for the next phase, attention turns to the decider matches in groups 1 through 8. Heavy hitters such as Fluxo, SAW, and Sergey ‘Ax1Le’ Rykhtorov’s 1win will compete for the remaining bracket seeds as the tournament moves toward the EWC 2026 qualifier playoffs stage.
Keep up with the ongoing EWC 2026 open qualifier coverage and review the Esports World Cup 2026 schedule to track playoff matchups and main event progress.
Source: HLTV
