Rune Eaters upset Aurora while Team Spirit eliminates Team Liquid at EWC 2026

The EWC 2026 Survival Stage continued to live up to its name as another two teams booked their places in the playoffs while two more saw their championship hopes come to an end.

After surviving the opening round yesterday, Rune Eaters and Team Liquid returned to face Aurora Gaming and defending champions Team Spirit respectively, with a place in the final eight on the line.

Rune Eaters refuse to roll over

If there was any doubt that Rune Eaters' victory over Virtus.pro was more than a one-off performance, it disappeared today.

Facing Aurora Gaming, one of the tournament's stronger teams throughout the group stage, Rune Eaters delivered another composed performance to secure a convincing 2-0 victory and perhaps the biggest upset of the event so far.

Aurora looked in complete control early in the opening game after building a sizeable advantage during the laning phase. But they failed to convert that lead into anything sustainable, allowing Rune Eaters to steadily work their way back into the match. Once the momentum shifted, it never truly returned. Copy was the star of the show for Rune Eaters as the underdogs turned a difficult opening into a convincing victory through superior execution in the later team fights.

Game 2 followed a similar script, only this time Rune Eaters never allowed Aurora to establish control. Playing with confidence and discipline, they consistently found the better engagements while Aurora struggled to meet the expectations many had placed on them before the tournament.

With the sweep, Rune Eaters continue one of the tournament's more remarkable Cinderella stories and advance to the playoffs, while Aurora Gaming become the latest casualty of the Survival Stage.

Team Spirit continue to look like champions

The second series saw defending champions Team Spirit eliminate Team Liquid 2-1 after another high-quality three-game battle.

The opener stretched to 56 minutes before Spirit gradually took the victory. Excellent map movements, decisive pickoffs, and fearless commitment around objectives allowed Yatoro to take over the game as the defending champions looked increasingly like the dominant roster fans have come to expect.

Liquid responded well in Game 2. After identifying the issues that plagued them in the opener, played the map far more effectively and were rewarded by a Spectre draft that scaled beautifully into the late game to force a deciding map.

The final game, however, belonged to Team Spirit. Strong lanes gave them complete control of the tempo, while the support duo once again proved instrumental throughout the series, creating countless small advantages that steadily snowballed into an insurmountable lead. Liquid never found the momentum they needed, and Spirit methodically closed out the series to secure another playoff appearance.

With Miposhka back alongside the team in a coaching role, Team Spirit continue to look increasingly comfortable as they chase a third Esports World Cup title.

For Team Liquid, meanwhile, another promising tournament ends before the business end of the playoffs.

The Survival phase continues with two more series today, with two more eliminations on the line. The playoff stage begins tomorrow, Junly 16th, where the remaining eight teams will battle through a single-elimination bracket for the championship.