Sixteen teams have accepted their invites to the Thunderpick World Championship 2026 Closed Qualifier. However, only one of them will advance from this stage. As a result, this qualifier carries serious weight, since a single win separates a team from the main event.
The field includes several well-known names, such as Ninjas in Pyjamas, HEROIC, and 100 Thieves. In addition, Ninjas in Pyjamas will compete under new in-game leader Karim “Krimbo” Moussa. This change in leadership adds extra intrigue, as fans will watch closely to see how the roster performs together.
Background on the Qualifier
This is a closed qualifier, meaning only invited teams can take part. Fourteen of the sixteen teams received their invites through the European VRS. Meanwhile, Wildcard and BESTIA received their invites through their own regional VRS instead. Wildcard qualified through the North American VRS, while BESTIA qualified through the South American VRS. Therefore, the bracket includes fourteen European teams alongside one North American team and one South American team.
Full List of Competing Teams
- Ninjas in Pyjamas
- HEROIC
- 3DMAX
- EYEBALLERS
- Nemesis
- HOTU
- Virtus.pro
- Wildcard (NA)
- K27
- 100 Thieves
- BBL
- FOKUS
- Acend
- INFINITE
- 1win
- BESTIA (SA)
What Is at Stake
Only the winning team from this qualifier will move on to the main event in Malta. The main event carries a prize pool of $1,000,000, which makes the stakes especially high for every team in the bracket. Meanwhile, seven additional slots for Malta will be filled separately, through invites based on the August 3 VRS. As a result, this qualifier decides just one piece of the full Malta lineup, but it remains a critical one.
Why This Qualifier Matters
With fourteen European teams competing against just two non-European sides, the bracket leans heavily toward Europe. However, Wildcard and BESTIA still give North America and South America a genuine chance to claim the remaining spot. Therefore, fans across multiple regions have a reason to follow this qualifier closely, since the winner will earn a place in a million-dollar tournament on the biggest stage.
