Spirit eliminated B8 from Esports World Cup 2026 with a 2-0 win in the playoff Round of 16. The Ukrainian team fought on both maps, but Spirit closed the series without allowing a decider.
The result sends Spirit into the quarterfinals, where they will face Vitality. Meanwhile, B8 finished their tournament campaign in 9th-16th place and received $35,000 in prize money.
Spirit Take Dust2 and Mirage
Spirit started the series on Dust2, their own map pick. B8 stayed competitive during the opening stages, but Spirit found the crucial rounds after the break and secured a 13-9 victory. Danil “donk” Kryshkovets made an immediate impact, while B8 could not convert their close rounds into a late comeback.
The teams then moved to Mirage, selected by B8. However, Spirit produced another 13-9 win and completed the sweep. Ancient was left unplayed as the potential third map, meaning B8’s Esports World Cup 2026 run ended after two maps.
donk Leads Spirit to Victory
Danil “donk” Kryshkovets was the most influential player of the series. He finished with 45 kills and 25 deaths, alongside 114.7 ADR and a 1.82 Rating 3.0 across Dust2 and Mirage.
Andrey “tN1R” Tatarinovich supported Spirit with a 1.18 rating. Dmitry “sh1ro” Sokolov followed with a 1.15 rating, helping Spirit control key moments on both maps.
VRS Points After the Match
B8 lost 26 VRS points after the defeat. Their total dropped from 1,655 points to 1,629, while the team remained in 16th place in the ranking.
Spirit also lost six VRS points despite the win. Their total moved from 2,003 points to 1,997, but they retained first place in the VRS ranking.
Spirit Set Up Vitality Clash
B8 left Esports World Cup 2026 in 9th-16th place with $35,000. The team’s playoff run ends against a Spirit roster that once again showed its ability to close out a series in two maps.
For Spirit, the tournament now enters a more demanding stage. Vitality awaits in the quarterfinals, and the matchup will decide which team reaches the final four. Spirit will need another strong performance from donk and the rest of the roster to continue their run for the Esports World Cup 2026 title.
