Paper Rex enters the 2026 Esports World Cup as the outright favorite to win the Valorant title. G2 Esports sits in second place, priced at +500 odds, which translates to a 17% implied probability of taking the trophy.
The Esports World Cup runs from July 6 to August 23 in Paris, spanning 25 events across 24 different titles. The total prize pool sits at $75 million, the largest in esports history.
Valorant is one of the headline titles. Paper Rex, the Singapore-based organization, has built its reputation on an aggressive, high-variance playstyle. G2 Esports has a history of deep runs in major tournaments across multiple titles, and their Valorant roster has shown consistent performance. A 17% chance of winning is not a long shot.
The EWC’s new three-year partnership with Riot Games, which publishes Valorant, adds another layer of legitimacy to the event.
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