Home Blog Page 96

Live EWC PUBG Mobile 2026 Points Table Day 2 Group Stage: Check PMWC Standings

The PUBG Mobile World Cup (PMWC) 2026 Group Stage Day 2 is set to decide the fate of all 16 Group A teams. After an exciting opening day, 4Thrives Esports lead the standings with 59 points, while Orangutan sit in sixth place with 45 points after securing a crucial Winner Winner Chicken Dinner in the final match of Day 1. With only six matches remaining, every point will be vital in the race for a direct Grand Finals qualification.

This page will provide the live PMWC 2026 Group Stage Day 2 points table after every match. If you’re following Orangutan, Aurora Gaming, GOAT Team, DRX, Nigma Galaxy, or any other Group A team, bookmark this page for real-time standings and qualification updates.

PMWC 2026 Group Stage Day 2 Live Points Table

Note: Please refresh this page after every match to see the latest PMWC 2026 Day 2 standings.

After Match 12/12

  • 1st Place: 4Thrives โ€“ 107 Points
  • 2nd Place: Orangutan โ€“ 91 Points
  • 3rd Place: Aurora Gaming โ€“ 90 Points
  • 4th Place: Team Flash โ€“ 89 Points
  • 5th Place: Nigma Galaxy โ€“ 88 Points
  • 6th Place: ULF Esports โ€“ 83 Points
  • 7th Place: AG.AL โ€“ 79 Points
  • 8th Place: Team GOAT โ€“ 73 Points
  • 9th Place: FURIA โ€“ 73 Points
  • 10th Place: AlUla Club โ€“ 72 Points
  • 11th Place: KRX โ€“ 70 Points
  • 12th Place: RRQ โ€“ 62 Points
  • 13th Place: Geekay Esports โ€“ 57 Points
  • 14th Place: XForce Reject โ€“ 46 Points
  • 15th Place: ThunderTalk Gaming โ€“ 34 Points
  • 16th Place: Gaming Stars โ€“ 29 Points

EWC PUBG Mobile 2026 Day 2 schedule

The second matchday features another six matches for Group A.

MatchMapTime (IST)
Match 7Rondo4:30 PM
Match 8Erangel5:20 PM
Match 9Erangel6:10 PM
Match 10Erangel7:00 PM
Match 11Miramar7:50 PM
Match 12Miramar8:40 PM

What to expect from Day 2

Day 2 is the final opportunity for Group A teams to secure a place in the top five, which guarantees direct qualification to the Grand Finals. Teams finishing between 6th and 13th will advance to the Survival Stage, while the bottom three will be eliminated.

The battle for the top five is expected to be extremely close, with only 14 points separating first-placed 4Thrives Esports and sixth-placed Orangutan after Day 1.

Orangutan’s target on Day 2

Orangutan ended Day 1 in sixth place with 45 points, just two points behind the current top-five cutoff. Their late Winner Winner Chicken Dinner gave them valuable momentum heading into the final six matches.

The Indian squad will aim to continue that form and break into the top five to qualify directly for the Grand Finals. Consistent placements, early survival, and high-elimination games will be key if they want to avoid the Survival Stage.

PMWC 2026 Group A teams

  • Orangutan (India)
  • 4Thrives Esports
  • AG.AL
  • AlUla Club
  • Aurora Gaming
  • KIWOOM DRX
  • FURIA
  • Gaming Stars
  • Geekay Esports
  • GOAT Team
  • Nigma Galaxy
  • RRQ
  • Team Flash
  • ThunderTalk Gaming
  • ULF Esports
  • XFORCE Rejects

Group Stage format

The PMWC 2026 Group Stage runs from August 6 to August 9.

  • 32 teams divided into two groups of 16.
  • Each group plays 12 matches across two matchdays.
  • Top 5 teams qualify directly for the Grand Finals.
  • Teams placed 6thโ€“13th advance to the Survival Stage.
  • Bottom 3 teams are eliminated.

Where to watch

Fans can watch all PMWC 2026 matches live on:

PlatformLanguage
PUBG Mobile Esports YouTubeEnglish
EWC_IND YouTubeHindi
Esports World Cup YouTubeEnglish
Esports World Cup TwitchEnglish

Several Indian PUBG Mobile creators are also expected to host watch parties and live co-streams throughout the tournament.

TalkEsport will update this PMWC 2026 Group Stage Day 2 Points Table after every match with the latest standings, qualification scenarios, match winners, and Day 2 results.

Marvel Tokon PC Faces Several Issues on Launch Day

Marvel Tokon PC launch issues have surfaced within a day of the fighting game’s release, as Steam players report stuttering, low frame rates, and a mandatory PlayStation Network (PSN) login. Arc System Works released Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls on August 6, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and PC, skipping Xbox entirely. Despite a day-one patch aimed at fixing problems that also affected last month’s open beta, the PC version currently holds a “Mixed” rating on Steam.

Here is a full breakdown of what is going wrong and how the developer has responded.

Marvel Tokon PC Launch Issues

Multiple Steam users say Marvel Tokon runs poorly on PC regardless of their hardware. Players report dropped frame rates and stuttering even on high-end systems, along with high CPU usage during matches.

Some players also report the game gets stuck on a black screen while the anti-cheat software loads, with a few needing over 30 minutes before the game finally launches. These are the same core issues that affected Marvel Tokon’s open beta last month, when Arc System Works first pledged to fix them with a day-one patch.

On top of the performance problems, Marvel Tokon requires a mandatory PSN account to play on PC, even through Steam. The login is free, but it mirrors the backlash Sony faced with Helldivers 2 in 2024, and Sony’s PSN account restrictions have reportedly kept the PC version from launching in some countries altogether.

Marvel Tokon Steam Reviews Turn Mixed

As of August 7, 2026, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls sits at a “Mixed” rating on Steam, with only 43-44% of over 1,400 user reviews being positive. Many of the negative reviews focus specifically on the PC port rather than the core game.

One Steam reviewer wrote that the anti-cheat “leads into a completely black window” before the game would load. Other reviews point to inconsistent settings menus and unstable online netcode as additional factors dragging down the score.

Linux and Steam Deck Players Locked Out

Marvel Tokon does not launch at all on Linux or SteamOS, which also locks out Steam Deck owners. Players on Reddit say the game’s anti-cheat system, Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC), is the likely cause, noting that EAC already supports Linux and Proton in several other titles.

According to a Reddit user citing Marvel Tokon’s Discord community manager, the team compared adding Linux support to porting the game to the Nintendo Switch. It is not yet confirmed if or when Arc System Works plans to address Linux and Steam Deck compatibility.

Arc System Works Responds to the Backlash

Arc System Works acknowledged the PC issues through an official post on the Marvel Tokon X account. The developer said it is “actively investigating these reports” and asked affected players to share additional feedback to help the team resolve the problems.

Arc System Works has not given a timeline for further PC fixes. The studio has already outlined a Year 1 content roadmap for Marvel Tokon, with Phoenix Cyclops confirmed as the first DLC character arriving this fall.

COD Mobile x Honkai Impact 3rd Crossover Coming Soon

Call of Duty Mobile is teaming up with Honkai Impact 3rd for a new crossover event. Activision confirmed the collaboration on August 7, 2026, through a video teaser on Call of Duty: Mobile’s official X account. The COD Mobile x Honkai Impact 3rd crossover is set to arrive in the game in September 2026, bringing operator skins and cosmetics inspired by HoYoverse’s action RPG.

Here’s everything confirmed about the collab so far, including the characters involved and when it’s expected to go live.

COD Mobile x Honkai Impact 3rd Crossover Release Date

The teaser for the COD Mobile x Honkai Impact 3rd crossover went live on August 7, 2026. It confirmed the collaboration is coming in September 2026, though Activision hasn’t shared an exact in-game date yet.

Some reports tied to the teaser video point to September 3, 2026, as a possible launch window. This would line up with the typical start of a new COD Mobile season, since Season 7: Terminated kicked off on August 6, 2026, and seasons usually run for about 4 to 5 weeks.

The crossover is expected to bring operator skins, Honkai-themed cosmetics, and other exclusive content to COD Mobile. Activision has not detailed the full scope of the event beyond the character reveals shown in the teaser.

Additional details came from the official Chinese Call of Duty: Mobile page on Bilibili, which posted a closer look at the crossover. The artwork shown there features 3 characters from Honkai Impact 3rd’s Herrscher trio.

Based on the Bilibili artwork, the COD Mobile operator Rin Yoshida appears to be getting a skin based on Raiden Mei’s Herrscher of Thunder form. Siren is tied to Kiana’s Herrscher of Flamescion design, while Kestrel is linked to Bronya’s Herrscher of Reason form.

COD Mobile has run similar anime crossovers before, using a lucky draw system for operator skins, so this collab could follow the same format.

The announcement has drawn attention from both the COD Mobile and Honkai Impact 3rd communities. The teaser video on Bilibili passed 150,000 views shortly after it was posted.

Marisa Honkai, a well-known figure in the Honkai Impact 3rd community, commented on the character selection, noting that the collab draws from the Herrscher trio’s earlier designs.

This crossover follows COD Mobile’s ongoing Season 7, which introduced a Terminator-themed collaboration. More official details on the Honkai Impact 3rd crossover, including a confirmed release date and full skin list, are expected closer to September.

Valorant Players Discover Waylay Bug to Hit Invulnerable Enemies With Ability

Only a few hours after Waylay got re-added to the Valorant Agent roster after getting removed for a bug involving her Refract, players have managed to find yet another bug involving the Duelist, this time related to her Saturate ability.

For the uninitiated, Waylay was initially removed from Valorant on July 31 due to a Refract bug that gave players incorrect visual information after using her signature ability.

On August 4, Waylay was added back to the Valorant Agent roster as the devs claimed the bug had been fixed. However, it seems that a different bug involving her has surfaced once again, leading to concerns within the community about her potential removal once again.

New Valorant Waylay Bug Lets You Slow Invulnerable Enemies

When an Agent goes invulnerable in Valorant, theyโ€™re typically immune to all damage and negative status effects like blind, stun, or slow. However, Waylayโ€™s Saturate ability seems to be circumventing this by slowing down enemies through invulnerability.

As highlighted in a recent X post by prominent Valorant leaker valohabercisi, Waylayโ€™s Saturate is able to hit invulnerable enemies like Reyna during her Dismiss or Yoru during his ultimate.

Riot Games has yet to address the new Waylay bug at the time of writing. Waylay mains are already concerned that the devs could pull her from the game once again, potentially leaving players unable to pick the Duelist in ranked for another few days.

Alongside the Waylay bug, players have also recently found a game-breaking Cypher bug in Valorant involving his Cyber Cage.

Needless to say, the Valorant community is hoping for Riot Games to fix these bugs at the earliest to prevent them from affecting the gameโ€™s competitive experience.

New CS2 Ban Wave Removes Thousands of Farming Bots

Less than two weeks after a Counter-Strike 2 ban wave wiped out over 8000 malicious accounts, Valve has deployed yet another ban wave for its competitive shooter, this time targeting bot farms.

As per data from csstats.gg, the latest CS2 ban wave has issued suspensions on roughly 7700 accounts within the span of a single day. According to initial reports, these bans are targeted towards bot accounts that are used to farm weekly drops and Armory stars.

Player counts for CS2 game modes like Deathmatch, which were prime targets for bot farms, also appear to have been impacted by this ban wave. Compared to last weekโ€™s numbers, player counts for non-competitive game modes like Casual, Deathmatch, and Arms Race are down significantly.

The new CS2 ban wave also appears to have taken a toll on the game’s skin market, with prices for high-tier cosmetics such as knives and gloves dropping by a considerable margin.

While the skin market crash could be good news for players who previously couldnโ€™t afford expensive knives like the Butterfly Doppler or Karambit Fade, it has raised concerns among collectors and investors who may have spent heavily on top-shelf skins.

Whether Valveโ€™s latest ban wave will have a lasting impact on CS2โ€™s farming bots problem and the overall skin economy still remains to be seen. For now, however, the sheer scale of the bans appears to have made a noticeable dent in multiple parts of the gameโ€™s ecosystem.

Free Fire Lag Fix: Reduce Ping, Frame Drops and Heating

Free Fire lag can make even a good match frustrating, especially on budget phones. High ping, frame drops, stutters and phone heating can all affect gameplay, but each problem has a different cause. A weak or unstable internet connection usually causes high ping, while low RAM, background apps, high graphics settings and overheating can lead to FPS drops. In this guide, we explain the best Free Fire lag fix methods for budget phones, including how to reduce ping, improve FPS, lower heating and optimize your device without using risky third-party booster apps.

Free Fire Lag Fix: Best Settings for Budget Phones

The best Free Fire lag fix starts with lowering the workload on your phone. Garena recommends reducing graphics quality, closing background apps, clearing temporary cache, keeping the operating system updated and restarting the device when necessary.

For a budget phone, start with Smooth or the lowest available graphics setting. If your game still stutters, reduce other visual settings and avoid using options that put extra pressure on the GPU.

Garena has also recommended Smooth graphics, Normal High FPS and Auto Scale Off as troubleshooting settings for certain game-client issues.

The goal is not to make the game look as detailed as possible. On an entry-level device, stable FPS is more important than high graphics quality.

SettingRecommended Option
GraphicsSmooth/Low
High FPSNormal or the highest stable option
Auto ScaleOff
Background AppsClose all unnecessary apps
BatteryAvoid playing while charging
NetworkStable Wi-Fi or mobile data

The exact options can vary depending on your phone and the current game version, so use the lowest settings that give you stable gameplay.

How to Reduce Free Fire Ping

High ping is mainly a network problem, not an FPS problem. Garena says an unstable connection can cause lag and random disconnections, while it considers 150ms and below ideal for Free Fire.

If your ping suddenly becomes high, try these steps:

  • Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data.
  • Move closer to your Wi-Fi router.
  • Stop downloads and streaming on other devices.
  • Close apps that are using mobile data in the background.
  • Restart your phone and router.
  • Use a stable 4G/5G connection when Wi-Fi is unreliable.
  • Avoid VPNs while playing.

Garena specifically recommends switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data to determine which connection performs better. It also warns that other devices using the same Wi-Fi network can consume bandwidth and increase connection problems.

If your ping remains high across different networks, the issue may be related to your internet provider or local network conditions rather than your phone.

How to Fix Free Fire Frame Drops

Frame drops happen when your phone cannot consistently render the game at the desired FPS. Budget phones are more likely to experience this when the graphics load is high or when other apps are consuming RAM.

Start by closing social media apps, browsers, video players and other games before opening Free Fire. Garena recommends closing background apps because they can reduce device performance.

You should also avoid filling your phone’s storage completely. Remove apps, videos and files you no longer need. Keeping some free storage can help the phone operate more smoothly.

Another useful step is restarting the phone before a long gaming session. This closes background processes and gives the device a fresh start.

How to Stop Free Fire From Heating

Heating can cause performance to drop during longer sessions. When a phone becomes too hot, its performance can be reduced to control temperature, which may result in stuttering or FPS drops.

Garena recommends lowering graphics settings, clearing app cache, closing unnecessary applications and avoiding multitasking while playing. It also advises players not to play while the device is charging and to avoid playing in direct sunlight.

For a budget phone, follow these habits:

  • Remove the phone case if it traps excessive heat.
  • Play in a cool and ventilated room.
  • Do not play while charging.
  • Avoid direct sunlight.
  • Close background apps.
  • Use lower graphics settings.
  • Take short breaks during long sessions.

Lowering graphics is particularly important because demanding settings can put additional load on the phone’s GPU.

Clear Cache and Free Up Storage

A crowded or overloaded device can contribute to slowdowns. Garena recommends clearing temporary cache and removing unused apps when troubleshooting lag.

On Android, you can usually go to Settings > Apps > Free Fire > Storage > Clear Cache. The exact menu names may differ between brands.

Be careful with Clear Data. It is different from clearing cache and may remove locally stored app information or require you to log in again. Make sure your account is properly linked before using more aggressive troubleshooting steps.

Avoid Fake Free Fire Booster Apps

Many third-party apps claim to reduce ping, increase FPS or magically boost phone performance. Garena has specifically stated that many apps making these claims provide little to no real benefit.

You should also avoid MODs, unofficial game files and suspicious performance tools. Garena advises players not to use MODs or third-party programs when troubleshooting connection problems.

The safer approach is to optimize the phone itself, reduce graphics settings and use a stable internet connection.

Check Your Phone’s Performance

If Free Fire lag continues even after optimization, your phone may simply be struggling with the game’s workload.

Garena’s published recommended specifications for Free Fire include 3GB RAM, an octa-core 1.8GHz CPU and 3GB+ storage on Android. These specifications are older published guidance, so they should not be treated as a guarantee of modern performance.

If your device is close to or below the game’s recommended hardware level, lowering graphics and keeping background processes to a minimum becomes even more important.

Quick Free Fire Lag Fix Checklist

Before starting a match, make sure:

  • Graphics are set to Smooth or Low.
  • Unnecessary background apps are closed.
  • Downloads and streaming are stopped.
  • Your Wi-Fi or mobile data connection is stable.
  • Your phone has enough free storage.
  • Cache has been cleared when necessary.
  • Your phone is not overheating.
  • You are not playing while charging.
  • Your device software is updated.
  • No VPN, MOD or suspicious third-party booster is running.

Why Is Free Fire Still Lagging After These Fixes?

If your ping is low but the game still feels choppy, you may not have a network problem. Garena notes that if ping is 150ms or below but the game still lags, players should troubleshoot device performance instead.

In that situation, focus on graphics, FPS stability, RAM usage, storage and temperature.

If your FPS is stable but your ping keeps jumping, focus on the network instead. Testing another Wi-Fi or mobile data connection can quickly help identify the source.

If problems continue after trying the standard troubleshooting steps, you can contact Garena support and provide your exact device model, operating system and game version.

Also read: Free Fire Max Download for iOS Without App Store

The best Free Fire lag fix for a budget phone is usually a combination of lower graphics, fewer background apps, enough free storage, stable internet and better temperature control. You do not need a third-party booster to improve performance.

For high ping, focus on your network. For frame drops, reduce the game’s graphics load. For heating, lower the workload and avoid playing while charging. These simple changes can make Free Fire considerably smoother on many budget devices.

BGMS 2026: All 24 Invited Teams and Format Revealed

NODWIN Gaming has officially revealed the invited teams and tournament format for the BGMI Masters Series (BGMS) Season 5. The tournament will run from August 10 to September 6, 2026, bringing together some of the biggest names in the Indian BGMI esports scene. While the complete match distribution and qualification numbers for some stages are yet to be announced, the organizers have confirmed the invited teams and the overall tournament structure.

Here’s everything you need to know about the BGMS 2026 invited teams, schedule, and format.

BGMS 2026 invited teams

A total of 24 teams have been revealed for League Week 1. Most of them have received direct invitations, while a few teams qualified through earlier competitions.

Invited teams

  • Team Outrage
  • Elite Nova
  • Gladiators Esports
  • Apex Gaming
  • Team Tamilas
  • Vasista Esports
  • Reckoning Esports
  • Nebula Esports
  • 8Bit
  • Genesis Esports
  • Team Soul
  • 7Gods Esports
  • Revenant XSpark
  • Myth Official
  • Rapid Chaos
  • Epigrotive Gaming
  • Zero Ark
  • K9 Esports
  • Wyld Fangs
  • Quantum Sparks

Qualified teams

  • White Walkers
  • HyperCatz
  • Santa Esports
  • Aura X Esports

BGMS Season 5 tournament schedule

StageDates
League Week 1August 10โ€“13
Bounty WeekendAugust 14โ€“16
League Week 2August 17โ€“20
Super Weekend 1August 21โ€“23
League Week 3August 24โ€“27
Super Weekend 2August 28โ€“30
PlayoffsAugust 31โ€“September 2
Grand FinalsSeptember 4โ€“6

BGMI Masters Series 2026 format

The BGMS Season 5 will be played over nearly a month and features multiple league stages before the Grand Finals.

League Week 1 (August 10โ€“13)

  • 24 teams compete.
  • Teams are divided into three groups of eight teams.
  • Double round-robin format.
  • Top 16 teams qualify for the Bounty Weekend.
  • Teams placed 17th to 22nd move to League Week 2.
  • Bottom two teams are eliminated.

Bounty Weekend (August 14โ€“16)

  • 16 qualified teams compete.
  • Teams will battle for places in Super Weekend 1.
  • Remaining teams continue their journey through League Week 2.

League Week 2 (August 17โ€“20)

  • 16 teams compete.
  • Qualified teams advance to Super Weekend 1.
  • Remaining teams move to League Week 3, while some teams are eliminated.

Super Weekend 1 (August 21โ€“23)

  • 16 teams compete.
  • Points earned here are added to the overall League leaderboard.
  • Top-performing teams qualify for Super Weekend 2.

League Week 3 (August 24โ€“27)

  • 16 teams compete.
  • Teams fight for the remaining Super Weekend 2 spots.

Super Weekend 2 (August 28โ€“30)

  • 16 teams compete.
  • League leaderboard points continue to accumulate.
  • The best teams qualify directly for the Grand Finals, while others move to the Playoffs.

Playoffs (August 31โ€“September 2)

  • 16 teams compete.
  • The remaining Grand Finals spots will be decided here.

Grand Finals (September 4โ€“6)

The top teams from the League stage and Playoffs will compete in the BGMS Season 5 Grand Finals to crown the tournament champion.

Read More: EWC PUBG Mobile 2026: Dates, Schedule, Teams, Format, Prize Pool, Where to Watch, and More

More details to be announced

While the overall tournament structure has been revealed, NODWIN Gaming has not yet announced the complete match schedule, daily match count, prize pool, group draw, and qualification numbers for several stages. These details are expected to be shared closer to the tournament.

With top teams like Team Soul, 8Bit, Revenant XSpark, Team Tamilas, Reckoning Esports, Gladiators Esports, K9 Esports, and Team Outrage competing, BGMI Masters Series 2026 Season 5 is expected to be one of the biggest BGMI tournaments of the year.

PMWC 2026 Group Stage Day 2: Timings, Points Table, Teams, Maps, Format, Streaming, and More

The PUBG Mobile World Cup (PMWC) 2026 Group Stage Day 2 will be played on Friday, 7 August 2026, featuring the final six matches for Group A. Teams like Orangutan, Aurora Gaming, 4Thrives Esports, GOAT Team, Nigma Galaxy, DRX, Team Flash, and others will be back in action as they battle for direct qualification to the PUBG Mobile World Cup 2026 Grand Finals.

After Day 1, Pakistan’s 4Thrives Esports leads the standings with 59 points, while India’s Orangutan is currently in sixth place with 45 points, just two points behind the qualification zone. With only six matches remaining, every point will be crucial.

PMWC 2026 Group Stage Day 2 schedule

MatchMapTime (IST)
Match 7Rondo4:30 PM
Match 8Erangel5:20 PM
Match 9Erangel6:10 PM
Match 10Erangel7:00 PM
Match 11Miramar7:50 PM
Match 12Miramar8:40 PM

PUBG Mobile World Cup 2026 Group A points table after Day 1

RankTeamPoints
14Thrives Esports59
2GOAT Team52
3Nigma Galaxy48
4Aurora Gaming47
5KIWOW DRX47
6Orangutan45
7Team Flash38
8ULF Esports38
9AG.AL37
10Geekay Esports36
11FURIA24
12Team RRQ23
13Gaming Stars22
14AlUla Club Esports21
15ThunderTalk Gaming17
16XFORCE Rejects16

Group A teams

  • 4Thrives Esports
  • AG.AL
  • AlUla Club
  • Aurora Gaming
  • DRX
  • FURIA
  • Gaming Stars
  • Geekay Esports
  • GOAT Team
  • Nigma Galaxy
  • Orangutan
  • RRQ
  • Team Flash
  • ThunderTalk Gaming
  • ULF Esports
  • XForce Rejects

Day 1 recap

The opening day produced plenty of action as six matches were played across Rondo, Erangel, and Miramar. 4Thrives Esports finished the day on top with 59 points after maintaining excellent consistency throughout the six games.

India’s Orangutan had a mixed start but ended the day in style by winning the final Miramar match to secure India’s first Winner Winner Chicken Dinner (WWCD) of PMWC 2026. The victory helped the team climb to sixth place with 45 points, keeping their Grand Finals hopes alive.

GOAT Team, Aurora Gaming, Nigma Galaxy, and DRX also delivered strong performances and currently occupy the qualification spots.

What to expect from Day 2?

Day 2 is expected to be even more intense as it will decide the final standings for Group A. After 12 matches, only the top five teams will qualify directly for the PMWC 2026 Grand Finals. Teams finishing between 6th and 13th will advance to the Survival Stage, while the bottom three teams will be eliminated.

For Orangutan, the objective is simpleโ€”finish inside the top five. The Indian squad is currently only two points behind fifth-placed DRX, meaning a strong performance in the opening matches could immediately move them into the direct qualification spots. However, teams like Team Flash, ULF Esports, AG.AL, and Geekay Esports are also close enough to challenge for those positions, making every elimination and placement point extremely valuable.

Tournament format

The Group Stage runs from August 6 to August 9 with 32 teams divided into two groups of 16 teams each. Every group plays 12 matches across two matchdays.

  • Top 5 teams qualify directly for the Grand Finals.
  • Teams placed 6th to 13th advance to the Survival Stage.
  • Bottom 3 teams are eliminated from the tournament.

Where to watch

Fans can watch PMWC 2026 live on:

  • PUBG Mobile Esports YouTube (English)
  • EWC_IND YouTube (Official Hindi Broadcast)
  • Esports World Cup YouTube
  • Esports World Cup Twitch

TalkEsport will continue providing live match results, updated points tables, and complete PMWC 2026 coverage throughout the tournament.

PMWC 2026 Day 1 Results: Orangutan Secures WWCD as Pakistan’s 4Thrives Finishes on Top

The first day of the EWC PUBG Mobile 2026 Group Stage has officially concluded in Paris, France. Six exciting matches were played featuring all 16 teams from Group A, with Pakistan’s 4Thrives Esports finishing at the top of the leaderboard after an impressive opening day. India’s Orangutan had a mixed start to the tournament but ended the day on a high by securing a Winner Winner Chicken Dinner (WWCD) in the final match. With only six matches remaining for Group A, the race for a direct Grand Finals qualification is still wide open. Check out the PMWC 2026 Standings.

PMWC 2026 Group Stage Day 1 overall standings

RankTeamTotal Points
14Thrives Esports59
2GOAT Team52
3Nigma Galaxy48
4Aurora Gaming47
5KIWOW DRX47
6Orangutan45
7Team Flash38
8ULF Esports38
9AG.AL37
10Geekay Esports36
11FURIA24
12Team RRQ23
13Gaming Stars22
14AlUla Club Esports21
15ThunderTalk Gaming17
16XFORCE Rejects16

PMWC 2026 Group Stage Day 1 recap

EWC PUBG Mobile 2026 Day 1 featured six matches across Rondo, Erangel, and Miramar. While several teams delivered consistent performances throughout the day, Orangutan struggled with late-game executions in the early matches before making a strong comeback in Match 6.

The top five teams after Day 2 will qualify directly for the Grand Finals, while teams placed between 6th and 13th will advance to the Survival Stage. The bottom three teams will be eliminated from the tournament.

Match 1: Geekay Esports claims the first WWCD

The opening match on Rondo started with complete chaos as several teams contested the same landing areas. Orangutan lost multiple players early but managed to recover through the recall system and reached the Top 4.

Geekay Esports dominated the final fight and secured the first Winner Winner Chicken Dinner of PMWC 2026 with eight eliminations. Orangutan collected eight points to begin their campaign.

Match 2: Aurora Gaming shines on Erangel

The second match saw Orangutan once again lose an early player during rotation. Captain Aaru stepped up with multiple eliminations to keep the team alive before they were eventually eliminated by Team Flash.

Aurora Gaming defeated DRX in the final fight to secure their first WWCD of the tournament.

Match 3: GOAT Team continues strong form

The third game remained on Erangel, where Orangutan struggled in the final circles and managed only three points.

GOAT Team delivered a disciplined performance and secured the WWCD with six eliminations, while Nigma Galaxy also picked up valuable points to stay near the top of the standings.

Match 4: Team Flash takes the victory

Another Erangel match produced intense fights throughout the lobby. Orangutan was eliminated early after getting caught between ULF Esports and third-party pressure.

Team Flash played an excellent end game and defeated Nigma Galaxy to claim the Winner Winner Chicken Dinner.

Match 5: GOAT Team wins again

The action shifted to Miramar for Match 5. Orangutan changed their drop location and survived until the Top 5 but were eventually eliminated by GOAT Team.

GOAT Team produced another outstanding performance, collecting 26 points and securing their second WWCD of the day.

Match 6: Orangutan ends the day with a WWCD

The final match of Day 1 turned out to be Orangutan’s best performance of the tournament so far.

The Indian side played patiently throughout the match before eliminating Nigma Galaxy in a crucial late-game fight. They then defeated both ULF Esports and Aurora Gaming in the closing moments to secure India’s first Winner Winner Chicken Dinner at PMWC 2026.

The victory earned Orangutan 20 points and pushed them into the top six heading into Day 2.

Orangutan still in Grand Finals contention

Although Orangutan had an inconsistent start, their impressive victory in the final match kept them firmly in contention for a direct Grand Finals qualification. The Indian squad currently sits in sixth place with 45 points, just two points behind fifth-placed KIWOW DRX in the PMWC 2026 Standings.

With six more matches left to play, every game on Day 2 will be crucial in deciding which teams secure direct qualification to the PMWC 2026 Grand Finals. TalkEsport will continue to provide complete coverage, including live points tables, match results, and post-match analysis throughout the tournament.

Chinese CS2 Players Are Getting Tax Notices for Skin Trades Over 300,000 Yuan

China is arguably the biggest market for Counter-Strike 2 skin trading, but that might soon go downhill following reports of players getting served with tax notices, according to a report. Several players claim to have received tax notices after their skin trades passed 300,000 yuan in total value, as Chinese tax authorities are cracking down on virtual item trading, a market that has grown fast alongside CS2’s rising skin prices.

Why Is This Happening

CS2 skins have become much more than cosmetic items in China and all over the world, with a whole economy revolving around the game. With many seeing it as a mode of investment, the skin industry has reached the point where billions of dollars are traded, which can be compared to the stock market of a small nation. The rise in trading volume caught the attention of tax regulators, which has led to tax notices of such unbelievable amounts. Trading platforms in China have already started tracking said movement of money in the market from accounts, and with time more platforms will adopt this.

What does it mean for the players?

It goes without saying that the CS2 community is taken aback by this move from the Chinese government. Skin trading was taken up by many as a side hobby, and putting the burden of tax on the same will now force a lot of people away from the market, especially the casual traders who used to make some money out of it. Getting an official notice changes that, and it pushes people to think about record-keeping, transaction history, and how their trading profits could be classified.

How does this affect the skin economy of CS2?

China taking such a bold step to tax video game skins might start the trend where other Governments take inspiration to draw money out of it, leading to a global crash of the CS2 market. In light of these events, players/traders who deal with high-value skins should be wise enough to keep a proper record of every transaction so that the authorities do not come knocking at their doors, especially in China and soon for the rest of the world.