The Esports World Cup 2026 has been a milestone moment for Indian competitive gaming as Orangutan and GodLike Esports became the first Indian teams to make it to the PUBG Mobile World Cup Grand Finals. They achieved the feat during Week 5 of the tournament which also saw Kuaishou Gaming win in the Honor of Kings World Cup, M. Zubair win TEKKEN 8 and OpTic Gaming win Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
Orangutan and GodLike's qualification as qualified teams is a big deal for India's esports ecosystem. Indian teams have been winning more and more titles in competitive gaming but getting to the Grand Finals of a large global PUBG Mobile competition has always been a big challenge for them.
The two organisations have now cracked that barrier, and Indian esports fans now have two teams to follow on one of the biggest international stages in mobile gaming.
As for Orangutan and GodLike, it is a result of successful performance in the pressure of an international tournament. The PUBG Mobile World Cup is one of the main competitions in the Esports World Cup programme, bringing together the leading teams from different regions.
Both Indian sides have been able to get to the Grand Finals and both have been able to move through the competitive stages so that they can achieve their spot in the championship.
The success of the two is important beyond the two organisations. Indian esports has developed rapidly in the last few years with a huge gaming audience and professionalisation and mobile gaming popularity. Orangutan and GodLike are further evidence that Indian teams are capable of competing with the world's best teams when given the opportunity.
Week 5 of the Esports World Cup was very packed with all competitions for PUBG Mobile World Cup as well as big tournaments in other games. The EWC 2026 schedule lists PUBG Mobile World Cup, Honor of Kings World Cup, TEKKEN 8 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 among the competitions in Week 5.
And the PUBG Mobile success was not the only big story of the week. Kuaishou Gaming won the Honor of Kings World Cup and another international title in the week. Their success proved there is a lot of competition in EWC with teams competing in different games and tournaments for individual tournament titles and more generally club recognition.
The other individual performance came from M. Zubair in TEKKEN 8. His performance was described as a fairytale performance that brought a bit of personality to a week of team-based successes. Fighting games require a different skill set from tactical shooters and battle royale titles Zubair’s victory should be a reminder of the variety of disciplines represented in the Esports World Cup.
OpTic Gaming also continued to develop in the week with a double-header in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. That consistency in esports is why the organization still exists - teams have to go back and forth with opponents, adapt to tactics and the demands for a high level of competition. Winning two big games isn’t only about mechanical skill, but communication, preparation and performance when expectations are high.
The larger Esports World Cup structure is meant to bring all competitive gaming communities together in one big event. The 2026 edition will encompass a large variety of esports titles and will span a number of weeks. This format will enable the fans to see all games from all the different sides of the game, and also the bigger organisations that are playing for recognition for their whole community in the overall event.
But the PMWC story will be the biggest one for Indian esports supporters at PMWC. Orangutan and GodLike are now in the final stage of what is going to be the competition for PUBG Mobile teams of the world and will have the chance to challenge some of the strongest PUBG Mobile teams in the world. And Indian players will also have the chance to compete in high-pressure global lobbies and this will help in the development of the competitive gaming scene in India.
GodLike has long been one of India's most recognisable esports organisations while Orangutan has also established a strong presence in the competitive gaming ecosystem in the country. They have also come together to make an unusual move of having two Indian organisations reach the same international Grand Finals for the first time.
The achievement could also spark interest in professional esports among younger Indian gamers. Competitive gaming has developed into a structured sport ecosystem in which professional organisations, coaches, analysts and tournaments and international leagues play as part of it. For Indian teams to show the potential of that ecosystem they will be able to establish competitive esports as an active profession.
At the same time, success at an international tournament brings added pressure. Teams from a variety of regions and with international experience will be at the Grand Finals, which will be a much more formidable test. Orangutan and GodLike will have to maintain their composure and consistency against players who will have similar aspirations.
That qualification should be considered as an accomplishment of its own and not a signpost for a championship result. The first step towards a global Grand Final is a big one but the second stage brings a fresh competition. Both teams will now have the chance to compete against the best remaining field and may well win one of PUBG Mobile esports’ biggest titles.
The multi-game nature of EWC also means that individual wins can contribute to a wider narrative about which esports organisations are establishing themselves as global powers. Kuaishou Gaming’s Honor of Kings victory, Zubair’s TEKKEN 8 run and OpTic Gaming’s Call of Duty success represent different competitive communities, but they are all indicative of the depth of talent that is being exhibited at the competition.
India will now turn to the PMWC Grand Finals and Orangutan and GodLike's performance. Their qualification has already secured a place in the history of Indian esports. Now the next step is to translate that breakthrough into a strong performance on the biggest stage.
#EsportsWorldCup2026 | Orangutan and GodLike Esports make history as first-ever Indian teams to reach PMWC Grand Finals
— DD News (@DDNewslive) August 11, 2026
Kuaishou Gaming conquer Honor of Kings World Cup, M. Zubair completes a TEKKEN 8 fairytale, while OpTic Gaming go back-to-back in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 in… pic.twitter.com/9noVdv4wb0
The developments from Week 5 only highlight the way esports is evolving. Bigger and bigger organisations are battling to stand out, new teams are challenging traditional expectations and countries with large gaming communities are producing international contenders.
India’s two-team breakthrough at the PMWC Grand Finals is one of the best examples of that changing competition.
In the Esports World Cup 2026, Orangutan and GodLike will carry India’s hopes into the next stage of the PUBG Mobile competition. Whatever happens in the Grand Finals, their qualification has already created a landmark moment for Indian esports and provided another sign that Indian teams are increasingly capable of making their presence felt on the global competitive gaming stage.
