The second week of the 2026 Esports World Cup (EWC) has shown significant betting activity, with a staggering $558,924 wagered across various platforms. This week revealed strong contenders as three champions emerged in Paris, marking a key moment in the event.
Champions Take the Lead
In the Valorant finals, 100 Thieves triumphed over NRG with a score of 3-1, earning a prize of $600,000. MVP honors went to Cryocells for his outstanding performance. In Apex Legends, UNLIMIT secured the title ahead of ZETA DIVISION, with Peace recognized as MVP. Additionally, NAVI's Darkangel dominated in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, defeating Virtus.pro's mi2ha4 decisively 5-1.
These victories are part of a larger competition featuring a total prize pool of $75 million, including $30 million set aside for the cross-game Club Championship. The EWC is in full swing from July 6 through August 23, with games from Dota 2, League of Legends, Free Fire, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang on the schedule for Week 2.
Betting Insights from Polymarket
Polymarket’s latest data points to an impressive $402,600 in volume across its top 20 esports betting markets, alongside $1.39 million in liquidity. The match between eSuba and Misa Esports led the board with $61,400 in volume, where eSuba held a 34% likelihood of winning. Another notable matchup featured Hanwha Life Esports against MIBR.LOS with Hanwha holding an overwhelming 92% chance at $48,400 in volume.
Looking at the League of Legends landscape, Gen.G is favored at 86% against Karmine Corp with $22,900 in volume, while T1 has a 91% probability against GAM Esports, showing that the EWC continues to attract attention and investment. In Dota 2, Team Liquid is priced at 64% against Xtreme Gaming, reflecting the competitive nature of these matchups.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
