BIG and BC.Game are among the first eight teams to secure places in the playoff bracket of the Esports World Cup 2026 Counter-Strike 2 Open Qualifier in Paris.
The opening half of the 64-team LAN produced largely expected results, with BIG, BC.Game, HEROIC and fnatic all surviving their groups. Betclic, Inner Circle, DENDELE and HOTU joined them as the winners of Groups 1-8.
Only four teams from the entire qualifier will ultimately earn places at the $2 million Esports World Cup main event, making reaching the 32-team playoff bracket only the first major step.
BC.Game Recover From Difficult Opening Series
BC.Game entered the qualifier as one of the most closely watched teams because of a lineup featuring Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev, Denis “electroNic” Sharipov and Emil “Magisk” Reif alongside Senzu and mzinho.
Their tournament did not begin smoothly.
BASEMENT BOYS took Nuke from BC.Game during the opening series, forcing the favourites into a three-map battle. BC.Game nevertheless recovered to win 2-1 before producing a cleaner performance against the recently signed 1win roster.
The first eight group winners were:
- Inner Circle
- BIG
- DENDELE
- HOTU
The second half of the group winners included:
- Betclic
- BC.Game
- HEROIC
- fnatic
BC.Game’s early scare demonstrated exactly why the EWC Open Qualifier can be dangerous even for teams packed with Major-winning experience.
With dozens of teams competing simultaneously and limited preparation available against many opponents, reputation provides little protection.
BIG Avoid Early Trouble in Paris
BIG also secured direct progression from its group.
The German organisation is competing with tabseN, JDC, faveN, blameF and gr1ks, with xenn coaching the lineup. Unlike some of the other notable names in the field, BIG managed to navigate the opening phase without suffering a major upset.
That is especially valuable in a tournament where the schedule moves quickly and teams must play several best-of-three series within a short period.
| Team | Region | Status after Groups 1-8 |
|---|---|---|
| BIG | Germany | Playoffs |
| BC.Game | Europe | Playoffs |
| HEROIC | Sweden | Playoffs |
| fnatic | Ukraine | Playoffs |
| Betclic | Poland | Playoffs |
| HOTU | Russia | Playoffs |
Advancing as a group winner also removes the immediate pressure of a decider match and allows teams to focus on preparing for the elimination bracket.
Once the playoffs begin, however, there will be no safety net.
fnatic Capitalize on Iberian Soul Upset
One of the largest surprises from the first half of the competition came in a group containing fnatic and Iberian Soul.
Iberian Soul, competing under their former name after leaving Gentle Mates, suffered an unexpected first-round defeat to 6666. The loss forced them onto a more difficult route through the group while fnatic took advantage and secured first place.
It underlined the unpredictability of the event. Even teams with considerably more international experience can quickly find themselves facing elimination against opponents that rarely appear at top-level tournaments.
The group stage does provide one second chance through its double-elimination format, but that protection disappears in the next phase.
Betclic Continue Their Strong Run
Betclic also reached the playoffs after entering Paris with considerable momentum.
The Polish roster has recently emerged as one of the more dangerous teams outside the established Tier 1 group. Their qualification from the opening stage continues that positive trajectory and puts them another step closer to an EWC appearance.
The Paris qualifier offers more than simply a route into the main event. Teams finishing fifth through 16th will share an additional $100,000 prize pool, giving deep playoff runs financial value even for organisations that narrowly miss the four qualification positions.
For teams such as Betclic, HOTU, Inner Circle and DENDELE, the event also provides an opportunity to gain ranking value and visibility against internationally recognised opposition.
Single-Elimination Playoffs Change Everything
The opening group phase reduces the field from 64 teams to 32.
From there, the qualifier moves into a single-elimination bracket. Every series becomes decisive, and only the four teams that survive far enough will receive tickets to the Esports World Cup.
The four available spots make the competition particularly unforgiving. A field containing established organisations, experienced international players and ambitious Tier 2 teams guarantees that several recognised names will leave Paris without qualification.
BIG and BC.Game have therefore achieved their first objective, but neither can consider the job finished.
Assessment
The first wave of playoff qualification largely favoured the expected teams, but the opening matches already showed how volatile this format can become.
BC.Game dropping a map to BASEMENT BOYS and Iberian Soul losing to 6666 demonstrated that smaller teams are capable of disrupting the bracket. At the same time, BIG, HEROIC, fnatic and Betclic did what was required and avoided an early elimination battle.
The real test begins with the 32-team playoff bracket. A single bad series from that point ends the EWC campaign immediately.
For BIG and BC.Game, reaching the playoffs confirms their status among the qualifier favourites. Turning that start into one of the four available Esports World Cup spots will be considerably harder.
