Sashi defeats Virtus.pro to advance to Round of 16 at EWC Open Qualifier

Sashi Esport just sent Virtus.pro packing from the Esports World Cup 2026 Open Qualifier, winning their Best of 3 series 2-1 on August 9. The result punches Sashi’s ticket to the Round of 16 and ends VP’s run at what was supposed to be a Last Chance Qualifier for the main EWC event. For a team ranked around #52 globally, beating an organization with two decades of Counter-Strike pedigree is the kind of result that makes you double-check the scoreboard. Betting markets had Virtus.pro as clear favorites heading into the match, which makes the outcome all the more striking. What happened on the server The match took place at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles during the single-elimination playoff phase of the EWC Open Qualifier. Sashi had already earned their spot in the bracket by navigating the group stage, qualifying alongside teams like SINNERS before the knockout rounds began. Virtus.pro entered the playoffs ranked somewhere between #34 and #48 in global standings. Sashi took the series in three maps, eliminating one of the most recognized brands in competitive Counter-Strike history. VP, an organization founded in 2003 with multiple CS titles to its name, now watches the rest of the...