The first wave of competitors has locked in their spots for the Fortnite Reload Elite Series Championship at the 2026 Esports World Cup – and with a $1M prize pool on the line in Riyadh this August, the race to fill the remaining 30 slots is well and truly on.
Fortnite Reload makes its debut as the competitive format for EWC 2026, marking the first time Epic Games has built an entirely new mode as the primary path into a global LAN tied to a multi-title event. The faster pace and elimination-heavy gameplay are designed to make the broadcast more exciting, and it looks like it’s already generating serious buzz across the community.
First Qualifier Results – February 9, 2026
The first of four regional qualifiers wrapped up on February 9, 2026, sending ten duos to Riyadh. According to the official Fortnite Competitive account, the Q1 qualifiers are:
- EU: Shxrk & T3eny, Sky & Scroll, Pablo Wingu & Tjino9
- Middle East: 5aald & Mshary
- Brazil: 916Gon & Night
- Oceania: Alex & Wreckless
- NA Central: Cold & Rapid, Peterbot & partner (TBC)
How Qualifying Works
Forty duos will qualify in total across seven worldwide regions, with each qualifier running through three stages – Opens, Play-Ins, and Finals. Europe leads the allocation with 12 total spots across the series (three per qualifier), while NA Central has eight, and NA West, Brazil, Asia, Middle East, and Oceania each have four.
To even enter, players need Elite rank or higher in Fortnite Reload, an Account Level of at least 350, and 14 tournaments played within the last six months – requirements that have sparked plenty of debate, with some pros calling the activity threshold “restrictive but good for filtering grinders.”
Three qualifiers remain before the Championship kicks off across August 8–11 in Riyadh, with group-stage and finals blocks broadcast live from the main EWC venue. Keep checking back here as each qualifier finalises the 40-duo field.