Team Falcons enter as the clear frontrunner at the Thunderpick World Championship 2026, bolstered by their Intel Extreme Cologne Major title and a stacked roster featuring NiKo, m0NESY, and coach zonic, yet recent inconsistent results since that victory have tempered expectations. Legacy benefits from in-game leader arT’s return after a health absence, while defending champions FURIA and in-form Aurora Gaming—fresh off a strong ESL Pro League showing—add depth to the eight-team field in Malta. Ninjas in Pyjamas stepped in for Virtus.pro after last-minute withdrawals, and early group-stage results like 9z’s 2-0 win over Aurora underscore the volatility. The GSL group format feeding into single-elimination playoffs keeps multiple paths open for upsets among the tightly rated contenders.