The best-of-one opening games for the highly anticipated Esports World Cup 2026 are ongoing in full swing, with Falcons securing a dominant win over K27. Coming off the back of winning a Major, Falcons, with the weight lifted off their shoulders, came into the match as heavy favourites, and the scoreboard is a testament to that.
VETO
- K27 removed Inferno
- Falcons removed Cache
- Falcons removed Mirage
- K27 removed Nuke
- K27 removed Anubis
- Falcons removed Ancient
- Dust2 was left over
Map 1: Dust2; Pick: B01 Decider; Winner: Falcons
Kicking off with a pistol round win, Falcons’ domination was on display right from the get-go, with the difference in level of individuals readily apparent. Continuing to struggle for the better part of the map, K27 managed to win rounds, but they were rare, which left them no room to mount a comeback in the following rounds. With m0NESY in form on offence, K27 barely managed to get an opening, which ultimately became their undoing, as getting first pick allowed the Falcons’ offence to play freely around the map as karrigan managed to pull the strings with relative ease.
Moving to the offence, Falcons allowed a brief comeback, losing out on the pistol, but that could barely put a dent in the massive lead they managed to garner following the end of the first half. Winning the first fun round, the perfectly played defence saw the map get closed out with relative ease. m0NESY is in peak form, with a supporting cast chiming in as and when needed to ensure Falcons don’t fall to another upset like Spirit.
Winning the opening game puts them in a challenging contest against the winners of the match between MIBR and Astralis. As many teams look out of form, Falcons pose a strong chance of going all the way. With pressure lifted and confidence at an all-time high, we just might see them bring home the EWC 2026.
