Vici Gaming have eliminated Team Falcons from the Esports World Cup 2026 Dota 2 tournament after securing a convincing 2-0 victory in the quarterfinals on Friday. The result sends Vici Gaming into the semifinals and ends Falcons’ EWC 2026 campaign in joint fifth-to-eighth place. Falcons entered the playoffs as one of the tournament favorites after finishing the group stage with a strong 9-1 record.
Vici Gaming Defeat Team Falcons 2-0
Vici Gaming controlled the quarterfinal series despite Falcons’ impressive group-stage performance.
In Game 1, Vici found the answers to Falcons’ draft and steadily took control of the map. Vici’s Spectre pick played an important role in their approach, while Hongcheng “Xm” Guo finished the game with a 19/5/14 KDA on Lina, according to match reporting.
Falcons needed a response in the second game, but Vici Gaming produced another strong performance.
The Chinese team selected a last-pick mid Slark for Xm. The pick created problems for Falcons’ Ember Spirit and helped Vici build a significant advantage. Vici reached the Falcons high ground during the game before Team Falcons called GG.
Falcons’ EWC Run Comes to an End
The defeat is a major disappointment for Team Falcons. The team arrived at EWC 2026 as the reigning The International champions, making their early elimination one of the biggest results of the Dota 2 tournament so far.
Vici Gaming, meanwhile, have continued to build momentum in Paris. The team had already eliminated 1win Team during the Survival Stage before defeating Falcons in the quarterfinals.
Vici are now guaranteed a top-four finish at EWC 2026 and are the last remaining Chinese team in the tournament.
The Dota 2 Esports World Cup features a $2 million prize pool, with the remaining teams continuing their fight for the championship in Paris.
For Team Falcons, the focus now shifts toward the remainder of the season. For Vici Gaming, their unexpected run at EWC 2026 continues into the semifinals.
