Overwatch Midseason Championship Heads Into Playoffs at Esports World Cup 2026

The Overwatch Midseason Championship at the Esports World Cup 2026 is entering its playoff stage in Paris, with the world's top 16 OWCS teams competing for a $1 million prize pool and crucial Club Championship points from July 29 through Aug. 2.

The group stage wrapped up with Crazy Raccoon, JD Gaming, Twisted Minds, Weibo Gaming, Virtus.pro, T1, VARREL and Team Falcons among the sides advancing, while defending Midseason champions Falcons enter the knockout rounds having lost star DPS duo Proper and Stalk3r since their last title.

The playoffs switch to a single-elimination format, with all matches best-of-five except for a best-of-seven grand final, and a hero ban system that requires each team's bans to come from a different role than their opponent's on that map.

Crazy Raccoon arrive as one of the favorites after already winning an EWC Overwatch title in 2024 and this year's Champions Clash trophy, while ZETA DIVISION's dominant run through the Asian circuit, including OWCS Korea Stage 1 and 2 and OWCS Asia Stage 1, makes them another team to watch.

With $400,000 going to the eventual champion and Club Championship points on the line, the Overwatch Midseason Championship playoffs are shaping up as one of the year's biggest tests for Playdash's Overwatch outright and match-winner markets.