President Emmanuel Macron and Esports Foundation CEO Ralf Reichert (L) present the Club Championship trophy to Esports World Cup 2026 winner AG.AL’s Kedeng Le Chairman, AG Esports Group CEO, AG Global; Abubaker Sheikhm, VP, AG Global (Business); and Xin Chang, VP, AG Global Special Assistant to Chairman at the Closing Ceremony of the Esports World Cup 2026 held at the Grand Palais in Paris, France
AG.AL captured the $7 million Club Championship title at a record-breaking, seven-week Esports World Cup featuring over 2,000 players across 25 tournaments. The massive event drew a historic digital audience of 850 million viewers (440 million hours watched), while on-the-ground engagement skyrocketed to 175,000 tickets sold (up 94% from 2025) and over 2 million total visits across venues, Fan Fest, and city activations.
The massive seven-week Esports World Cup in Paris has officially come to a close, with AG.AL taking home the ultimate Club Champion title. This landmark event saw over 2,000 elite competitors from more than 100 countries and 200 clubs face off across 24 distinct gaming titles and 25 tournaments, all vying for a slice of an unprecedented $75 million total prize purse.
AG.AL won the $7 million Club Championship with 5,300 points, sealed by a dramatic victory in Trackmania. Their versatile run included placing first in Tekken 8; second in Chess, Free Fire, and Honor of Kings; and third in Teamfight Tactics. The final top five standings were:
1st: AG.AL – 5,300 pts
2nd: Team Falcons – 4,600 pts
3rd: Team Vitality – 3,300 pts
4th: Natus Vincere – 2,950 pts
5th: Team Liquid – 2,700 pts
The championship was decided on the final weekend when AG.AL’s Gwendal “Gwen” Duparc won the debut Trackmania tournament. With two-time defending champions Team Falcons knocked out early in the quarterfinals via Carl-Antoni “Carl Jr.” Cloutier, the door opened for AG.AL. Gwen swept the finals to take home $130,000 and mathematically lock down the EWC 2026 Club Championship for AG.AL.
Reflecting on the tournament’s global expansion, His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan al Saud, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Esports Foundation, stated: “We are proud of what the Esports World Cup has achieved in Paris and of its continued international growth. Bringing the EWC to a global audience beyond Saudi Arabia marks an important milestone in its journey and reflects the growing recognition of esports as a global industry, connecting communities, cultures and audiences around the world. The attendance of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, alongside President Emmanuel Macron, is a testament to the growing importance and global interest in esports, and to how far the industry has come. I extend my congratulations to all the players, Clubs, publishers, partners and organisers who contributed to this edition. Paris has been an important chapter in the EWC journey, and we look forward to building on this progress in the years ahead.”
Celebrating the organization’s historic multi-title success, AG.AL COO Eddy Chen noted: “When we began expanding AG.AL globally in 2024, the same year the Esports World Cup launched, we set out to build a Club capable of succeeding across games, regions and cultures. This title shows how far that vision has come. Our journey in Paris reflected the strength of the entire organization, from M. Zubair’s breakthrough in TEKKEN 8 and our deep runs across multiple titles to Gwen delivering the decisive Trackmania victory under extraordinary pressure. But this trophy belongs equally to every player, coach and staff member whose dedication brought us here. I want to thank our Chairman, Mr. Layne Le, whose belief and leadership made this journey possible, and the Esports Foundation for creating a global stage that rewards the depth and ambition of an entire Club. Winning the Club Championship is a historic milestone for AG.AL and a proud moment for everyone who believed in what we are building.”
From beginning to end, EWC Paris 2026 delivered elite-level competition, cementing the legacy of established icons while introducing a new generation of talent. Local favorite Caliste “Caliste” Henry-Hennebert guided Karmine Corp on a spectacular run to the League of Legends Grand Final right in front of an ecstatic French crowd. Meanwhile, 15-year-old Chilean prodigy Jaime “Craime” Bustos made history as the youngest EWC champion ever after taking down two distinct EVO champions. In TEKKEN 8, AG.AL’s Khawaja “M. Zubair” claimed the championship trophy alongside the Jafonso Award for his incredible path from the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) straight to the title. The final weeks saw Samy “dralii” Hajji become the first-ever three-time Esports World Cup champion following a dominant victory in Rocket League, while chess Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen defended his title with a flawless, undefeated run.
The global footprint of EWC Paris 2026 shattered previous milestones, backed by a massive distribution network of over 100 broadcast and OTT partners streaming in 47 languages. Fortified by 5,000 creators and co-streamers, the tournament reached an unprecedented 850 million viewers and clocked 440 million hours watched—representing a 13% and 26% year-on-year increase, respectively. The event’s massive digital draw peaked during the League of Legends tournament, which pulled in a staggering 4.3 million concurrent viewers.
Live fan engagement saw an unprecedented surge, with 175,000 tickets sold for the core esports competitions—marking a massive 94% increase in ticket sales compared to the 2025 event. When accounting for main arenas, the interactive Fan Fest, and various city-wide activations, the tournament recorded a staggering 2 million total visits across its seven-week run.
The tournament was the thrilling climax of a massive, year-round competitive path. A staggering 1.5 million-plus players tested their skills across 330 Road to EWC events. This sprawling ecosystem seamlessly linked developer leagues, open qualifying brackets, and the definitive Club Championship into a unified global calendar, allowing fans to track the journey from the very first open match to the final trophy presentation.
“Our ambition has always been bigger than a single event: to grow esports and establish it as a leading global sport.The Esports World Cup brings that mission to life by bringing the best games, players, Clubs and communities together on one global stage. Paris embraced the Esports World Cup and made it its own. The city showed that competitive gaming belongs on the world’s biggest stages while staying true to what makes esports special. Thank you to the city of Paris for seven weeks of incredible support and fandom. And congratulations to AG.AL on an extraordinary Club Championship victory and on earning their place in esports history.” –Ralf Reichert, Chief Executive Officer of the Esports Foundation.
As the very first Esports World Cup held outside of Riyadh, the Paris edition represented a major leap forward in the tournament’s global expansion. Local French clubs performed in front of packed, sold-out home crowds, while more than 22,600 promotional placements blanketed the capital, reaching an estimated 94% of Parisians. Tournament branding was prominently displayed at iconic landmarks like the Champs-Élysées and the Eiffel Tower. This historic run of ticket sales reached its peak during the final weekend, when the high-stakes Counter-Strike tournament took over the 20,000-seat Accor Arena.
The true impact of EWC Paris 2026 will be felt long after the trophies have been handed out. To build upon the momentum generated this summer, the Esports Foundation partnered with the French Ministry of Sports, Youth and Community Life to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This landmark agreement sets up a framework for ongoing cooperation, paving the way for future initiatives in youth advancement, digital literacy, localized esports access, and the continuous growth of homegrown French talent.
Paris successfully transitions the Esports World Cup into its next era, leaving behind a trail of new champions, broken records, and a proven blueprint for hosting in premier global cities. As the very first international host city of the tournament, Paris secures a permanent, historic place in the legacy of the EWC.
The Esports World Cup will return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2027.
For more information, visit esportsworldcup.com and follow EWC on X and Instagram, and the Esports Foundation LinkedIn.
