“The goal is to win an international, so winning a domestic [title] doesn’t really do anything” – G2 trent after EWC 2026 elimination
G2 Esports has been eliminated from the Esports World Cup 2026 following a dramatic loss to Nongshim RedForce, marking the second consecutive painful elimination at an international event for the organization. This loss comes after G2’s faltering campaign at Valorant Masters London, where the team was also hindered by illness.
The match against Nongshim RedForce was highly competitive throughout, with G2 squandering multiple map and series points that could have closed out the series. In a strong comeback attempt during the final map, G2 came close to forcing overtime but ultimately fell short of that critical milestone.
Following the elimination, G2 player Trent Cairns spoke with Insider Gaming about the loss, expressing frustration and disappointment. Cairns believed the team had the capability to win both matches against Nongshim RedForce, highlighting the frustration of losing matches they felt they should have won. The back-to-back international tournament disappointments underscore mounting pressure on G2 to perform on the global stage.