KSG Crowned Honor of Kings World Cup Champions After Epic 4–3 Battle Against AG.AL

Paris, August 9, 2026 — The Esports World Cup 2026 has delivered another unforgettable championship moment as Kuaishou Gaming (KSG) defeated defending champions AG.AL 4–3 in a dramatic seven-game Grand Final to become the new Honor of Kings World Cup champions.

KSG entered the Grand Final looking almost unstoppable, having completed a near-perfect tournament run without dropping a game before the championship series. But AG.AL, the reigning champions, pushed the Chinese powerhouse all the way to Game 7 in one of the most competitive finals of the tournament.

With the final map deciding everything, KSG held their nerve and secured their first Esports World Cup title in Honor of Kings, while JuHao earned the Finals MVP award for his championship-winning performance.

KSG Survive AG.AL in a Seven-Game Classic

The Grand Final quickly became a battle of two completely different stories.

KSG arrived with an extraordinary tournament record, reaching the Grand Final without losing a single game. AG.AL, meanwhile, carried the experience of being the defending champions and entered the series looking to repeat their previous EWC success.

Neither side was willing to give ground.

The teams exchanged victories throughout the series, forcing the championship to a decisive seventh game. After six maps of back-and-forth action, KSG finally delivered the closing blow and completed a 4–3 victory.

The result ends AG.AL's reign and establishes KSG as the newest major champion on the Honor of Kings international stage. The official Esports World Cup records KSG as the 2026 champions, with a prize of more than $600,000 and 1,000 Club Championship points.

JuHao Takes Finals MVP Honors

KSG jungler He “JuHao” Weijia was named Finals MVP after playing a crucial role in the championship series.

His performance helped KSG withstand AG.AL's relentless challenge and close out the seven-game battle. JuHao also received a reported $25,000 MVP bonus alongside the championship achievement.

For KSG, the victory represents more than another tournament win. It is the organization's first Esports World Cup championship and a statement that a new force has arrived at the top of international Honor of Kings.

AG.AL's Championship Defense Falls Short

AG.AL entered the Grand Final with the opportunity to defend its Honor of Kings title, but KSG's extraordinary consistency proved too difficult to overcome.

The defeat also prevents Xu “YiNuo” Bicheng from adding another EWC championship to his résumé. After winning with AG.AL previously and with the KPL Dream Team before that, YiNuo was chasing another historic title. KSG's Game 7 victory ended that pursuit.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Playoffs Enter Championship Day

While Honor of Kings has already crowned its champion, the action continues in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, where the EWC championship is heading into its decisive stage.

OpTic Gaming produced one of the biggest statements of the tournament by sweeping FaZe Clan 4–0 in the quarterfinals.

The dominant victory sends OpTic into the semifinals, where they will face 100 Thieves. On the other side of the bracket, Team Heretics will take on Team Falcons.

Both semifinal matches are scheduled for August 9, with the winners advancing to the Grand Final later the same day. The Black Ops 7 tournament is being played as an offline BO7 event from August 5–9.

OpTic Sends FaZe Home in Statement Sweep

The 4–0 result against FaZe was one of the clearest statements of the Black Ops 7 playoffs so far.

OpTic controlled the series from start to finish, leaving FaZe unable to force even a single map. The result puts OpTic within one series of the Grand Final and gives the organization another opportunity to fight for an EWC championship.

The semifinal against 100 Thieves now becomes one of the day's biggest matches, with both teams looking to secure a place in the final.

Team Heretics vs Team Falcons: Another High-Stakes Semifinal

The other semifinal pits Team Heretics against Team Falcons.

Heretics have impressed throughout the tournament, while Falcons have also shown they can challenge the strongest teams in the field. With a Grand Final spot on the line, there is virtually no room for error.

The official EWC schedule lists both semifinal matchups for August 9, making Championship Sunday a potentially huge day for Black Ops 7 fans.

CS2 Last Chance Qualifier Adds More Pressure

The action is not limited to Honor of Kings and Call of Duty.

The Counter-Strike 2 Last Chance Qualifier is also continuing on August 9, with the playoff stage featuring a series of best-of-three matches as teams battle for their final opportunity to stay alive in the EWC competition.

Among the teams involved in the intense CS2 qualification race are recognizable names such as HEROIC, Fnatic and 100 Thieves, alongside other contenders fighting for progression.

The official Esports World Cup schedule confirms the CS2 Last Chance Qualifier is taking place on August 9, adding another layer of competition to an already packed Championship Weekend.

Three Games, Three Very Different Battles

What makes this EWC weekend particularly exciting is how differently the three competitions are unfolding.

• Honor of Kings: KSG has already claimed the championship after defeating defending champions AG.AL 4–3.
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 7: OpTic Gaming destroyed FaZe Clan 4–0 and now faces 100 Thieves in the semifinal.
• CS2: The Last Chance Qualifier is still alive, with teams fighting through best-of-three playoff matches for another shot at advancing.

That means there is still plenty of championship drama left even after KSG lifted the Honor of Kings trophy.

KSG's Perfect Run Ends With an EWC Trophy

Perhaps the most impressive part of KSG's championship campaign is how close they came to completing a flawless tournament.

The team did not drop a game on its way to the Grand Final. AG.AL finally pushed KSG into unfamiliar territory by taking the series to seven games, but even that pressure was not enough to break them.

KSG ultimately produced when it mattered most.

The 4–3 victory gives KSG its first EWC championship and adds another major chapter to the growing international Honor of Kings scene.

What's Next at EWC 2026?

With Honor of Kings now complete, attention shifts toward the remaining Championship Weekend battles.

Black Ops 7 is heading toward its Grand Final after the semifinal clashes between Team Heretics and Team Falcons and between 100 Thieves and OpTic Gaming. At the same time, the CS2 Last Chance Qualifier continues as teams fight for survival.

One champion has already been crowned.

KSG owns the Honor of Kings throne.

Now the question is: who will survive the rest of Championship Weekend?

Final Results & Key Takeaways

The Bottom Line

Kuaishou Gaming has officially arrived at the top. After an almost flawless tournament run, KSG defeated the defending champions in a seven-game Grand Final and claimed its first Esports World Cup title.

But the EWC 2026 story is far from finished.

OpTic Gaming is hunting for another championship after dismantling FaZe Clan, Team Heretics and Team Falcons are fighting for a Grand Final berth, and the CS2 Last Chance Qualifier is giving eliminated teams one more opportunity to survive.

Championship Weekend is doing what esports does best: turning every map, every game and every mistake into a potential season-defining moment.

Sources: Esports World Cup, Arab News, Liquipedia, GosuGamers, Xinhua, CGTN.

Tags: EWC 2026, Esports World Cup 2026, Honor of Kings World Cup, KSG, Kuaishou Gaming, AG.AL, JuHao, Call of Duty Black Ops 7, OpTic Gaming, FaZe Clan, 100 Thieves, Team Heretics, Team Falcons, CS2, Counter-Strike 2