The
' run in the
World Star Challengers Invitational came to an earlier end than expected, as the team, already eliminated from playoff contention,
forfeited their final two group-stage matches against Chinese team
ZSK and EMEA team
. However, these results did not affect the standings in Group D, which also featured Galions.
The team was initially scheduled to play their two group-stage matches this Friday. However, they were also set to face MVK Academy on the same day in the VCS 2026 Finals Stage 2, a stage of the Vietnamese championship that serves as the promotion tournament for the LCP 2027. SW had already faced 9Gaming Esports on Thursday in the first round, defeating them 2-1. The team is now just two best-of-five series away from the LCP.
A disappointing WSCI for the Warriors
As the 2026 VCS Summer champions, Saigon Warriors entered the tournament as Vietnam's first seed at this Tier 2 Worlds, but failed to take a single game off the EMEA teams. They finished the group stage with a 1-5 record, with their only win coming against ZSK.
The APAC region also sent the LJL and PCS Summer champions, FENNEL and CTBC Flying Oyster Academy. Both teams struggled as well,
losing all six of their matches across Groups B and C, making APAC the region with the worst record at the tournament. Brazil currently sits at 2-4 with Vivo Keyd Stars Academy, while North America has performed relatively well, with Cupid Esports leading Group C.
Not a first for the APAC region
Forfeiting matches due to scheduling issues is not unprecedented for the APAC region. At the 2025 Asia Masters Finals, DINO, VCS champions, declined to participate in order to prepare for the LCP Promotion tournament, with MVKA taking their place. During the
Swiss Stage 1 of the 2025 edition of the Asia Masters, five matches were forfeited by VCS or LJL teams for various reasons, including scheduling conflicts, power outages, and insufficient players being present.
The same happened during
Swiss Stage 2 of the same year, when eight matches were forfeited by teams from the region for various reasons, including a scheduling conflict with the VCS Finals, attendance at the VCS Finals Media Day, photoshoot, tech check and stage rehearsal, conflicts with players' personal schedules, and Saigon Secret forfeiting their matches after releasing their entire roster.
