VG narrowly escaped elimination and advanced to the EWC quarterfinals, while 1w Team was tragically eliminated.

In the 2026 Dota 2 Esports World Cup (EWC) qualifiers, which were full of upsets, the Chinese powerhouse Vici Gaming (VG) staged a thrilling comeback.

In the second round of key matches, VG pulled off a stunning comeback, defeating European powerhouse 1w Team 2-1 and securing their place in the quarterfinals.

In the previous group stage, VG qualified for the playoffs as the third-place team in Group C. In their first-round match against the South American team PlayTime, VG advanced directly without a fight because PlayTime's key player was suspended for alleged violations.

In the second decisive round, 1w Team took an early lead in the first game with a dominant 34-10 kill score, boasting a perfect 0-0 death rate for all three cores. However, VG quickly adjusted their strategy, and in the second game, Shiro, thanks to a phenomenal performance from his core Lina, racked up 22 kills, leveling the score.

The decisive game saw both sides battle for 63 minutes. Facing 1w Team's aggressive double-ranged marksman lineup, VG opted for a three-tank carry composition to meet the challenge head-on. In the mid-game, 1w's damage output exploded after he completed his build, leading to a stalemate.

At a crucial moment, VG's position 4 support player, XinQ, pulled off a miraculous comeback with Zeus. With a terrifying 85,000 magic damage output (the highest in the game) and two Divine Rapiers, he perfectly transitioned from support to a late-game carry, leading his team to a decisive attack on the base and securing a stunning victory.

After this match, VG secured at least $70,000 in prize money and will face strong opponents such as Team Falcons and Team Spirit in the playoffs. Meanwhile, 1w Team, a favorite to win the championship and a TI direct invite team, unfortunately finished in 9th-12th place.

Image source: Internet