Chopper Calls Spirit’s EWC 2026 Loss a ‘Curse’ After JiJieHao Upset

Team Spirit’s Esports World Cup 2026 campaign began with a shock loss to JiJieHao in Paris on August 12. The defeat left one of the pre-tournament favorites a single loss from elimination and drew an immediate reaction from former captain Leonid “chopper” Vishnyakov, who called the organization’s EWC record a “curse.”

The upset looked even sharper against the pre-match expectations. Spirit had been listed at 1.05 to win the opener, while JiJieHao stood at 10.00. Spirit also entered the event at 3.30 to take the title, second only to Vitality’s 3.00 among the teams covered by the bookmakers.

It was the first official meeting between the two lineups, scheduled to begin at 13:30 Moscow time. Instead of opening their group-stage run as expected, Spirit were forced straight into a fight to avoid another early EWC exit at the $2 million event.

The pressure attached to the result made it more than a routine opening-round setback. JiJieHao turned a first meeting between the lineups into one of the event’s early surprises, while Spirit moved from title contender to elimination danger in a single match. That reversal gave chopper’s reaction its edge: the former captain was connecting the upset to a pattern he had already experienced at the same tournament series.

The two opening defeats came against different opponents and under different circumstances, so the word “curse” remains chopper’s joke rather than an explanation. What the record does show is simpler: for a second edition in a row, Spirit failed to convert favorite status into a winning start and had to deal immediately with the consequences.

A Shocking Start and a Candid Reaction

Following the loss, former captain Leonid “chopper” Vishnyakov did not hold back his frustration. “Spirit didn’t show up on the server. This is some kind of curse, apparently the org just can’t win tournaments from EWC. Are there any shamans in the chat?” he said.

Chopper linked the upset to Spirit’s previous EWC disappointment rather than treating it as an isolated result. The joke was pointed, but the immediate competitive consequence was real: Spirit had no room for another loss in the group.

• Team Spirit lost their first Group Stage match at EWC 2026 to JiJieHao on August 12, putting them one loss away from elimination.
• Former captain chopper called the loss a “curse,” noting the organization’s repeated failure to win tournaments from EWC.
• At the previous EWC, Spirit also lost their opening match, falling to Heroic and exiting the tournament immediately.

The defeat is not an isolated incident for the organization at this specific event. A look back at the previous year reveals a troubling pattern that adds weight to the player’s superstitious remarks.

A History of Early Exits at the Esports World Cup

Chopper’s reference to a curse is grounded in a concrete historical parallel. During the previous year’s Esports World Cup, Team Spirit also stumbled at the first hurdle. In that edition of the tournament, the team lost to Heroic in the opening round and was immediately eliminated from the event.

The parallel is straightforward: Spirit lost its first match at both editions. The earlier defeat to Heroic ended that run immediately, while the 2026 loss to JiJieHao left Spirit one match from elimination. That repeated opening stumble is the factual basis for chopper’s remark.

With their tournament life hanging in the balance, Team Spirit must now regroup and win their next match to avoid a second consecutive group-stage elimination at the Esports World Cup. The unexpected loss to JiJieHao has transformed their path through the competition from a presumed march into the playoffs into a desperate fight for survival.