A year of competition comes down to one weekend.
After four seasonal tournaments and countless hard-fought matches, sixteen commanders have earned their place in the KARDS World Championship 2026. On October 30 and 31, they will face off to decide who takes the title of World Champion.
The $12,000 prize pool will be divided among the top four finishers, with $6,000 going to the World Champion.
The Road to the Finals
Every player in the field has already proven they can perform under pressure.
Four return from the Top 4 of last year's World Championship, while twelve more fought their way through this year's Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall Tournaments.
Reigning champion Sie_ returns to defend the title, joined by five other players from last year's World Championship field. For them, it's another chance to go all the way. For the rest, it's an opportunity to make their mark on KARDS history.
Top 4 of the World Championship 2025
- Sie_
- hqt18
- 禁忌之门 (Taboo)
- 煎饼1 (Pancake)
Qualified through the Winter Tournament
- 失其本心八幡 (Hachiman)
- 椎名ましろ (Shiina Mashiro)
- 拉菲艾拉 (La Pluma)
Qualified through the Spring Tournament
- 2598252160
- Dhhcofn
- 070714
Qualified through the Summer Tournament
- GT_bed
- 卡牌的力量 (Card)
- Cirno
Qualified through the Fall Tournament
- 66better
- SOB-liu
- 旮旯给木高手 (GG Master)
Drawing the Battle Lines
Nobody knows who they will face in the opening round.
The bracket will be decided by a draw, revealed in a video ahead of the finals. With sixteen of the year's strongest players in the field, there are no easy matchups.
How It Works
The World Championship uses a double-elimination bracket. A first loss sends a player to the lower bracket, where they have one more chance to stay in the competition. A second defeat means elimination.
- Friday, October 30: Round of 16 and Round of 8
- Saturday, October 31: The final four and the Grand Final
Every match is a best-of-five series. Players bring four decks from different main nations, and before each match, each player bans one of their opponent's decks. Preparation starts well before the first card is played.
The Grand Final follows the same rule. The upper-bracket finalist has not lost yet, so if the lower-bracket finalist wins the first best-of-five, a second series decides the World Champion.
Fresh reinforcements from Ring of Fire, plus a round of balance changes in mid-October, mean no one arrives with a proven battle plan. Which commanders adapt fastest? The World Championship is where we find out.
What's at Stake
- 1st place: $6,000 and the title of KARDS World Champion
- 2nd place: $3,000
- 3rd place: $1,800
- 4th place: $1,200
Watch It Live
Both days will be broadcast live, with full commentary from the KARDS casting team. Tune in as they break down the critical turns, unexpected plays, and matchups that decide the championship.
TWITCH
See You on the Battlefield
Sixteen commanders. Two days. One World Champion.
Save the date: October 30 and 31.
We'll see you on the battlefield.
