The seven-week marathon in Paris has finally reached its conclusion, and the hierarchy of global esports has shifted. AG.AL has been crowned the Esports World Cup 2026 Club Champion, securing the $7 million top prize and ending the two-year reign of Team Falcons.
In a finish that felt scripted for the big stage, the championship came down to the final weekend and a single game title: Trackmania. Team Falcons entered the closing stages of the event holding a lead in the overall standings, looking for a historic three-peat. However, the momentum shifted violently when their star player, Carl-Antoni “Carl Jr.” Cloutier, suffered a shock quarterfinal exit.
This opened the door for Gwendal “Gwen” Duparc. The French player, competing for AG.AL, needed a top-three finish to clinch the overall Club Championship for his organization. Instead, he delivered a masterclass in front of his home crowd, winning the inaugural EWC Trackmania tournament and sealing the title with 5,300 points. Team Falcons finished as runners-up with 4,600 points.
A Campaign Built on Breadth
While the Trackmania final provided the dramatic climax, AG.AL’s victory was the result of consistent excellence across the entire tournament. The organization’s path to the trophy included:
- A first-place finish in TEKKEN 8, led by Khawaja “M. Zubair” who emerged from the last-chance qualifier to win the title.
- Second-place finishes in Chess, Free Fire, and the Honor of Kings World Cup.
- A third-place finish in Teamfight Tactics.
This depth is exactly what the organization aimed for when they began their global expansion in 2024. As COO Eddy Chen noted, the goal was to build a club capable of succeeding across games, regions, and cultures.
The 2026 edition of the Esports World Cup was the first to be held outside of Saudi Arabia, moving to the French capital amid global security concerns. With the trophy now in the hands of AG.AL and the event successfully concluded at the Grand Palais, the focus shifts toward the next competitive season. For those looking to track the fallout of this result on upcoming rosters and events, keep an eye on our MyEsports predictions.