On August 19, the playoff stage of the Esports World Cup 2026 in Counter-Strike 2 kicked off. The first 1/8 final matches took place in Paris, delivering fans several dramatic comebacks and unexpected turns.
All series were played in a BO3 format, and due to the single-elimination structure, every loss meant the end of a team's run at the tournament. Following the first matchday, G2, FUT, FURIA, and MOUZ advanced to the quarterfinals.
Ukrainian fans paid special attention to two teams — G2 featuring r1nkle, and FUT featuring dem0n and cmtry. Both rosters with Ukrainian representation managed to overcome the first playoff round.
G2 and Astralis were the first to enter the server. The Danish team opened the series on their pick, Ancient, and literally shocked their opponent with a 6-0 start.
G2 managed to close the gap to 5-6, but Astralis did not allow their opponent to complete the comeback. After switching sides, the Danes won six out of seven rounds and took the map with a score of 13-6.
The situation changed dramatically on Dust2. G2 seized the initiative right away and finished the first half with a 9-3 lead. Astralis tried to get back into the game, but the American-European roster calmly brought the map to victory — 13-6.
The fate of the series was decided on Inferno. Here, the teams played a much closer first half, but G2 went into the side switch with a 7-5 lead. After that, the team completely controlled the game on the CT side and closed out the map 13-7.
Thus, G2 defeated Astralis 2-1 and advanced to the quarterfinals.
For Ukrainian fans, the performance of r1nkle was particularly pleasant, as he became the highest-rated player of the series with a 1.31 rating and tallied 15 assists.
The series between FUT and magic proved to be no less dramatic. The team featuring Ukrainians dem0n and cmtry started the match on Ancient, where magic immediately took a 3-0 lead.
FUT gradually leveled the game, but a string of clutches went in favor of magic. A 1v4 clutch by tenzy was particularly crucial, after which magic went into halftime with an 8-4 lead.
After switching sides, FUT managed to tie the score at 8-8, but magic regained the initiative once more and closed out the map in their favor — 13-9.
On Anubis, FUT already looked much more confident. The team endured several tough moments and did not allow their opponent to extend the lead. Crucial multi-kills by cmtry, along with his winning 1v2 clutch, helped FUT close out the map 13-7.
On Mirage, FUT took control of the game right away, finishing the first half with a score of 9-3. Magic attempted a comeback after switching sides and won five consecutive rounds, but the deficit proved to be too large.
FUT closed out the third map 13-8 and secured a 2-1 series victory.
Both Ukrainians — dem0n and cmtry — made an important contribution to the comeback. Moreover, dem0n became the highest-rated player of the match, helping FUT push through to the quarterfinals.
The match between FURIA and Aurora turned out to be a real drama. The Brazilian team found itself in a very difficult spot twice, but found the strength to make a comeback each time.
On Ancient, Aurora confidently started the match and held an 8-4 lead after the first half. However, FURIA won the second pistol round, followed by a six-round win streak, turning the score around to 10-8.
Aurora still managed to equalize at 11-11, but FURIA took the final two rounds to win the map 13-11.
On Nuke, it was Aurora who found themselves ahead. The team held a 12-9 lead and was just one round away from victory, but FURIA saved the map at the last moment. They leveled the score and pushed the game into overtime.
This time, Aurora managed to push through — 19-16 — and tied the series.
On Mirage, it seemed that FURIA were once again on the brink of elimination. Aurora won the first half 9-3, with one of the key moments occurring at the end of the first half thanks to a clutch by Jimpphat.
However, after switching sides, the incredible happened. FURIA won the pistol round, after which they gradually clawed their way back into the game. Aurora repeatedly blew favorable post-plant situations, while FURIA took round after round.
Ultimately, the Brazilians won 10 consecutive rounds and closed out Mirage with a 13-9 score, securing the series 2-1.
One of the main heroes of the comeback was molodoy, who delivered an exceptionally strong performance on the CT side of Mirage.
The final match of day one delivered perhaps the biggest drama. MOUZ faced GamerLegion, and the series stretched across three maps and over 70 rounds.
MOUZ started with a victory on Mirage — 13-11. The team got off to a confident start, but GamerLegion gradually fought back to make the game as competitive as possible.
GamerLegion responded on Ancient. MOUZ led 11-7, but failed to close out the map in regulation time. The opponent capitalized on MOUZ's mistakes and pushed the match into overtime, where GamerLegion emerged victorious at 22-19.
Everything came down to Nuke, where GamerLegion seemed to have done everything needed to reach the quarterfinals. The team delivered a brilliant first half on the CT side and went into halftime leading 10-2.
But MOUZ executed an incredible comeback.
Youngster xelex played an especially crucial role. After a disastrous Ancient, where he finished the map with a 13-35 stat line, the player completely reset and became one of Nuke's main heroes.
xelex found multi-kills time after time and helped MOUZ win nine consecutive rounds. In the end, the team turned the match around and closed out Nuke 13-11.
Thus, MOUZ defeated GamerLegion 2-1 and advanced to the quarterfinals, where they will face FUT.
The first day of the EWC 2026 playoffs proved the main point: in a single-elimination format, favorites cannot lose focus for even a second. G2 survived a rough start, FUT executed a comeback after losing the first map, FURIA twice erased massive deficits, and MOUZ rescued themselves from a 2-10 scoreline.
Ahead lie the quarterfinals, where the cost of every mistake will be even higher.
As a reminder, woxic on Aurora Reaching the EWC Playoffs, the Language Barrier, and the Turkish Fans' Reaction.
