The official offline international tournament, Esports World Cup 2026 (hereinafter, EWC 2026), held the Apex Legends final on Saturday, July 12, 2026.
UNLIMIT claimed victory after a fierce battle, marking the first time in FPS history a Japanese team has won a world championship.
UNLIMIT Tops the EWC 2026 Apex Legends Category! A Historic First World Championship for a Japanese FPS Team
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!!! 🏆#UNILIMIT #UNLWIN #EWC26 pic.twitter.com/iPH0Kh4X8o
— UNLIMIT (@UNLIMIT_UNL) July 11, 2026
The EWC 2026 Apex Legends tournament is an official offline international event.
Forty teams from around the world participated, competing fiercely for a $2 million prize pool.
The Japanese team, UNLIMIT, took home the victory!
This achievement marks a historic first in FPS history for a Japanese team at a world championship.
40 World-Class Teams Clash! Eight Teams Represent Japan
This tournament brought together 40 world-class teams, including eight Japanese teams.
The final rankings and prize money for each Japanese team are as follows:
- UNLIMIT – 1st Place: $600,000
- ZETA DIVISION – 5th Place: $125,000
- REJECT – 11th Place: $30,000
- KINOTROPE Club – 27th Place: $5,750
- TIE – 31st Place: $4,750
- WGR NEO – 32nd Place: $4,750
- Dory – 39th Place: $2,750
- TriniTY – 40th Place: $2,500
How Did the Four Finalists Fare? The Final Match Featured an All-Japanese Showdown: UNLIMIT vs. ZETA DIVISION
After five days of intense competition, the Match Point format final match saw three teams from Japan advance as follows:
- UNLIMIT
- ZETA DIVISION
- REJECT
Additionally, ENTER FORCE.36, featuring a Korean player, competed as part of the APAC North region, challenging the world's powerhouse teams.
ENTER FORCE.36
They secured fifth place overall in the Survival Stage and, despite facing an uphill battle, advanced to the Finals on their own merits.
Although they finished 20th overall, they made their presence known on the world stage as a Korean team representing APAC North.
ZETA DIVISION
ZETA DIVISION consistently racked up points and, in Game 8, reached Match Point faster than any other Japanese team.
In the final moments, the match culminated in a direct showdown with UNLIMIT, as they fought for the championship until the very end.
Although they narrowly missed becoming the first Japanese team to win, they secured an impressive fifth-place finish globally!
REJECT
Despite finding themselves in a tough spot, REJECT racked up 13 kills and 25 points in Game 8 to claim first place in the match.
They kept their championship hopes alive until the very end, ultimately finishing 11th in the world.
UNLIMIT
In Game 7, UNLIMIT defeated Sentinels—who had already reached Match Point—preventing them from closing out the tournament.
Carrying that momentum, they reached the Match Point threshold in Game 9.
The final battle came down to a direct showdown between the last two Japanese teams left standing: UNLIMIT and ZETA DIVISION!
Ultimately, they defeated ZETA DIVISION to claim the glory of the first world championship for a Japanese team.
UNLIMIT Wins! Xtsuvi Shares a Comment
#ALGS Split 1 Playoffs
@ EWCUNLIMITへの優勝インタビューです🎙️ pic.twitter.com/SWUiulWxEj
— ALGS APAC NORTH - JP (@ALGS_JP) July 11, 2026
By winning the tournament and climbing to the top of the world, UNLIMIT earned a grand prize of approximately 96 million yen, as well as crucial Championship Points to qualify for the ALGS Championship. The championship will take place in Sapporo from Thursday, January 28, to Sunday, January 31, 2027.
Furthermore, Peace claimed the tournament MVP award!
UNLIMIT Players and Coach
- Yulariman (@yulariman)
- Xtsuvi (@Xtsuvi)
- Peace (@Peace17_yt)
- Coach Yona (@yonabunnyhop)
Xtsuvi's Comment
"The start was a bit rough and our rotations didn't go very well, so we got off to a slow start. But I know my teammates are truly the best, so I believed in them and gave it everything I had.
There were definitely some tough moments, but we overcame them and won, so I'm incredibly happy."
(Translated from Japanese)
Japanese Teams Rise in the Apex Legends Competitive Scene! High Hopes for Future Success
In recent years, Japan has established itself as one of the world's powerhouse regions in competitive Apex Legends.
In 2024, REJECT WINNITY won the ALGS Year 4 Split 1 Playoffs, and fans now have high hopes for the future of Japanese teams!
You can watch all the intense action on the official RAGE YouTube channel, so be sure to check it out.
The next competitive season begins on Friday, August 21, 2026.
The season's culmination, the ALGS Year 6 Split 2 Playoffs, will take place in Las Vegas, USA, from Thursday, October 29, to Sunday, November 1, 2026!
For more details on ALGS Year 6, please visit the ALGS Year 6 official website.
#ALGS Split 1 Playoffs Day 5
世界1を賭けた一騎打ちの相手はZETAという劇的なドラマを制して悲願の世界1の称号を手にしたのは UNLIMIT / @UNLIMIT_UNL
👑Congratulations👑
🎥配信チャンネル
🔴YouTube[日本配信]: https://t.co/wgctXmICZH
🟣Twitch: https://t.co/gMZbQlBkDU pic.twitter.com/enj11ZPOC3— ALGS APAC NORTH - JP (@ALGS_JP) July 11, 2026
| Tournament Overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Apex Legends Global Series Year 6 Split 1 Playoffs at Esports World Cup 2026 |
| Dates | July 7–11, 2026 |
| Location | Paris, France |
| Participating Teams | 40 teams |
| Tournament Format | Group Stage Survival Stage Match Point Finals |
| Total Prize Pool | US$2,000,000 |
