G2 Esports and Karmine Corp Lock In the Two Esports World Cup Spots

G2 Esports wasted no time making their intentions clear. On Saturday, May 15, the squad swept Karmine Corp 3-0 in the upper bracket final to become the first EMEA team to lock in a spot at EWC 2026. The series was not even close.

G2 dominated Game 1 with a 23-10 kill count, took Game 2 in a tighter 18-14 affair, then completely shut the door in Game 3 with a stunning 27-6 performance. They denied their rivals a single map across the entire best-of-five, sending a loud message to the rest of the world about where EMEA stands heading into the summer.

KC Claws Back Through the Lower Bracket

Rather than fold after such a one-sided defeat, Karmine Corp showed the resilience that has made them one of the most exciting teams in European League of Legends. Dropped into the lower bracket final, they faced Movistar KOI with their EWC dream on the line.

KC dropped the opening game, a difficult start coming on the heels of an already demanding week of play. But the Blue Wall regrouped. Toplane standout Kim "Canna" Chang-dong stepped up with commanding performances, helping KC take the next three maps in a row to close out the BO5 3-1. The result also extended KC's winning streak against MKOI to four consecutive series.

The Story Behind the Slots

The path both teams took to EWC is a perfect reflection of the dynamic between them. G2 and KC have repeatedly met at the biggest moments of the European calendar, and their upper bracket collision at the qualifier was no different.

G2's clinical 3-0 win reestablished them as the region's dominant force entering the LEC playoff season. Karmine Corp, meanwhile, proved once again that they are never truly out of a tournament, grinding back through adversity to earn their place on merit.

EMEA Eyes the Trophy

With both teams confirmed, EMEA now has two strong representatives heading to the Esports World Cup 2026 in Riyadh. G2 Esports enter as the region's top qualifier, while Karmine Corp arrive as a battle-tested underdog with momentum on their side. The EWC field also includes Gen.G Esports as the title defender and Sentinels representing North America, among others.

If EMEA's inter-regional performances in 2026 are anything to go by, both G2 and KC will be ready to compete for the trophy when the action in Saudi Arabia kicks off.

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Featured Image Credit: EWC

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