Gen.G Esports punched its ticket to the Esports World Cup playoffs on July 16 by taking down Sentinels in the League of Legends bracket. The win sends Sentinels into a do-or-die match against Karmine Corp for the remaining playoff spot, just one day after Sentinels celebrated their first-ever international League of Legends victory against Team Secret Whales.

Paris, prize pools, and a new kind of sponsor

The 2026 Esports World Cup is the first edition held outside Saudi Arabia, running from July 6 to August 23 in Paris. The total prize pool exceeds $75 million, with the League of Legends segment alone offering $2 million to 16 competing teams.

France’s updated regulatory framework now permits licensed crypto…