SWS26 Recap: Global Gauntlet 1, Qualifier 1
The Global Gauntlet’s first stop is Knockout City, determining the first three qualifiers in the most decisive matches back-to-back we’ve seen
On Saturday, April 11, 2026, Qualifier 1 for the First Edition Global Gauntlet took place, the first of six total events in IPL and AREA CUP’s Global Gauntlet sub-series, leading up to the Splat World Series 2026.
With the day already packed with Splatoon, between this event, the Splatoon 3 North American League 2026, and LANs all taking place, the competitive spirit was in the air. The GG Qualifier 1 attracted 20 teams all vying for one of three available tickets to the First Edition Global Gauntlet Finals later in the month.
Teams who didn’t make the cut this week can try again, same time and place, in the GG Qualifier 2, which will determine the West’s final three teams for the First Edition Finals.
As a refresher on the format of the tournament, all SWS26 events will be Splat Zones-only. The Global Gauntlets are double-elimination, with qualifiers taking place during the Western Timeslot (10 AM PT / 1 PM ET / 7 PM CET), and follow a strike/select system:
- When the set begins, both teams take turns banning two maps each. The higher seed gets to choose their two maps of choice to ban first.
- The first map that the teams play on will be randomly selected out of the pool of non-banned maps.
- After the first game, the winning team bans two more stages. The losing team selects the map for the next game.
- This continues after each game until the set ends.
- Map bans reset after the set ends and will not carry into the next set.
With Cyren and Magic commentating all of the action, and Ely on the spectator camera, and some of the most visually-stunning production quality Competitive Splatoon has ever seen, this qualifier isn’t a tournament to skip!
While the Splattercolor Screen did make an appearance in the final set, its effects were not on stream, so viewers sensitive to its audio and visual disruption can safely watch.
Winner’s Round 2: fred vs. NEVER BACK DOWN NEVER WHAT (1-2)
The first set of the First Edition Global Gauntlet Qualifier 1 began with Winner’s Round 2, between fred and NEVER BACK DOWN NEVER WHAT. The first set would be a Best of 3, and all others would be a Best of 5. There was a slight mishap in the first round with the strike/select system, but it was fixed for all teams once the round ended.
Game one was at Inkblot Art Academy, after NEVER BACK DOWN NEVER WHAT banned Urchin Underpass and Brinewater Springs. Fred banned Bluefin Depot and Shipshape Cargo Co.
One minute in, fred had the lead, but it was NEVER BACK DOWN NEVER WHAT who was taking points free of penalty. The two teams had a stalemate around a score of 35 (fred) - 59 (NEVER BACK DOWN NEVER WHAT), but a crucial double from fred’s E-liter 4K Scope taking the opponent down to their last player sealed the knockout victory for fred, with a minute and a half remaining.
Game two was at Mahi-Mahi Resort, after fred banned Flounder Heights and Undertow Spillway.
The match began with NEVER BACK DOWN NEVER WHAT taking the zone, and already one minute in, they were just 34 ticks from winning, still in charge. Fred hardly had a chance to even neutralize the zone; by 3:40, NEVER BACK DOWN NEVER WHAT had gone from 100 to 0, for a fast knockout win.
Game three was at Barnacle & Dime, after fred banned Robo ROM-en and Crableg Capital. It was set point for both teams now—whoever won would be advancing!
The zone flipped possession a few times in the first minute, with each team having the lead for a brief moment. Fred was extending their lead, getting all the way to 38 before being stopped. From 83 and 14 penalty points, NEVER BACK DOWN NEVER WHAT rose to the occasion and went all the way to the KO. The team collectively Booyah’d as the zone reached zero, with two and a half minutes to spare.
The first set ended in an upset, with seed 13 sending seed 5 to the Loser’s Bracket!
Winner’s Quarterfinals: FTWin vs. healthy diet food groups (3-0)
With the bracket shifting to a Best of 5, FTWin would be set to take on healthy diet food groups—two well-known names in the tournament scene, with FTWin returning after their hiatus from the 2025 North American League.
Game one went to Eeltail Alley, with FTWin’s map bans being Lemuria Hub and Mincemeat Metalworks, and healthy diet food groups’ bans being Mahi-Mahi Resort and Urchin Underpass.
It took nearly 30 seconds for the zone to be capped, but FTWin took point first. A minute into the game, [K]yo got a double and popped aura as healthy diet food groups suffered a wipeout. Less than a minute later, FTWin knocked out, having gone 100 to 0.
Game two went to Museum d’Alfonsino, after FTWin banned Hammerhead Bridge and Sturgeon Shipyard.
FTWin claimed the zone almost immediately, kickstarting the intense matchup between teams. FTWin went down two players, giving healthy diet food groups the chance to take the zone, stopping them at 45. Shortly after, healthy diet food groups took the lead, until eventually they went down three players and FTWin took the zone.
Down three teammates, Zyf holds the zone in neutral against FTWin long enough for healthy diet food groups to respawn and take the zone.
FTWin did reclaim the zone, and with one minute remaining, they had the lead again. But they kept going down multiple players, which healthy diet food groups capitalized on to get the zone. Their points burned fast; in the final seconds, teams fought over a neutral zone. The clock ran out, and FTWin emerged as the victors, 87-78.
Game three went to MakoMart, after FTWin banned Um’ami Ruins and Scorch Gorge.
Healthy diet food groups went for the zone first, having it for a short time before FTWin took it. A minute and a half in, FTWin wiped out their opponent and extended their lead. Next, both teams inched their points forward, precariously taking small leads from one another.
First FTWin was stopped at 35. Healthy diet food groups took the lead—FTWin stopped them at 7 points remaining. Then FTWin held the zone long enough to get to 3, before healthy diet food groups applied a penalty to them. FTWin eventually made their way to a knockout, with less than half a minute remaining.
Winner’s Semifinals Part 1: FTWin vs. NEVER BACK DOWN NEVER WHAT (3-0)
Both Winner’s Semifinals sets would be on stream, as the winner of each set would earn their ticket to the 1st Edition Global Gauntlet Finals. The first ticket would go to the winner between FTWin and NEVER BACK DOWN NEVER WHAT, each having their second time on stream!
Game one went to Inkblot Art Academy again; FTWin banned Urchin Underpass and Sturgeon Shipyard, while NEVER BACK DOWN NEVER WHAT banned MakoMart and Robo ROM-en.
FTWin had some interesting choices with their comp, bringing a Luna Blaster Neo and double Wave Breaker. NEVER BACK DOWN NEVER WHAT was able to get halfway through their objective before FTWin locked in and took the zone for the first time. FTWin’s paint control and constant Wave Breakers led them to the knockout with 50 seconds left on the clock.
Game two was at Mahi-Mahi Resort, after FTWin banned Um’ami Ruins and Manta Maria.
The match slowly snowballed for FTWin, really gaining momentum after the first minute when NEVER BACK DOWN NEVER WHAT went down three players. FTWin was able to lock their opponent out and get a knockout, with over two and a half minutes to spare.
Game three was at Brinewater Springs, after FTWin banned Undertow Spillway and Hammerhead Bridge. Again, FTWin brought a comp that made the commentators double-take, having Custom Blaster and Custom E-liter 4K, for double Kraken Royale.
FTWin was ambitious, taking the zone and moving right up to their opponent’s spawn. The lockout crumbled, and NEVER BACK DOWN NEVER WHAT halted FTWin’s advance at 33. While NEVER BACK DOWN NEVER WHAT occupied the zone and FTWin was down three, azealia (Sam) snuck into the opponent’s spawn and popped the Kraken Royale, safely offering a jump to [K]yo for the team to pincer and retake zone.
FTWin’s pincer, with [K]yo and Sam in the opponent’s spawn area.
The teams continued to fight until their penalties were nearly gone, before the zone flipped and reapplied points. With 1:25 remaining, FTWin wiped out NEVER GIVE UP NEVER WHAT, took the lead, and came close to knocking out, winning 94-66 and taking the first seat to the First Edition Global Gauntlet Finals!
Winner’s Semifinals Part 2: hi vs. ezmd (1-3)
The second ticket to the first GG Finals would go to the winner between hi and ezmd; the loser of the set would have one last chance to try to earn their spot by winning in Loser’s Semifinals.
Game one went to Marlin Airport after ezmd banned Humpback Pump Track and Urchin Underpass, while hi banned Lemuria Hub and Crableg Capital. The first start of the game saw a disconnect, but was quickly back in action after a reset.
Ezmd started strong the first minute; even after going down three players, Ant kept the dream alive and stalled hi long enough that even at the numbers disadvantage, ezmd didn’t lose the zone. Ezmd was stopped at 7, then once more at 5, but in a twist, all the way from 34 and a handful of penalty points, hi swept in for the knockout.
Game two went to Barnacle & Dime; hi’s banned stages were Hammerhead Bridge and Um’ami Ruins.
Both teams traded multiple times over the course of the match: splats, zone, leads, specials. Halfway through, hi stopped ezmd at 5 using a critical Ink Vac to take away a Booyah Bomb and any ink ezmd threw at the zone. Ezmd came back with a wipeout on hi, and as the objective ticked down, Devin4K on the E-liter 4K got a double right before they knocked out.
Game three went to Sturgeon Shipyard after ezmd banned Flounder Heights and Manta Maria.
Hi had the zone first and held it for over a minute, but going down three let ezmd take possession, and shortly after, the lead. The teams clustered together at both ends of the wide zone, throwing special after special to stop one another. Amid the chaos, the game ended a little after two minutes had passed, with ezmd walking out as the winner.
Ezmd’s Booyah Bomb targets hi’s Crab Tank in the corner, while their Killer Wail 5.1 and Ultra Stamp (chrome) target the Booyah Bomb.
Game four’s map was Scorch Gorge, after ezmd banned Inkblot Art Academy and Undertow Spillway, seemingly favoring to ban the double-zone maps, as none were left in the pool after Undertow Spillway was out.
Ezmd was quick to take the zone, and quicker to go down 3, giving hi the lead 30 seconds in. The large zone with obtrusive center pillar made keeping the zone capped difficult; after a 34-second neutral state, ezmd claimed it and regained the lead. The Charger players shined in this match, with the PoV capturing a handful of excellent shots. Despite being wiped out with 47 seconds left, ezmd clutched the win, 87-83.
The second seat at the first Global Gauntlet Finals belonged to ezmd! One spot remains to be claimed in this week’s qualifying event!
Loser’s Semifinals: Azure vs. hi (3-2)
The stage to earn the last ticket to the 1st Edition Global Gauntlet Finals in this qualifier went to perhaps the most deserving storyline, Azure vs. hi. Not on stream, the two met earlier in Winner’s Round 3, where the winner, hi, was decided in a game 5. The two sets between these two were the only sets in the entire event that went as far as a game 5.
Game one was set at Scorch Gorge for the second time in a row; Azure banned Flounder Heights and Humpback Pump Track, while hi banned Crableg Capital and Robo ROM-en, despite the latter having previously won against Azure on Robo ROM-en.
Azure took the first extended lead when hi went down two players in the first minute. As soon as Volty made it into hi’s side of the map, the game was hers; immediately getting two-for-one at a ledge, followed by a third for a triple and aura. Looping back around to the zone, Volty sniped another with a Trizooka, and caught an Ultra Stamp below a ledge, bringing Azure to the first knockout of the set after a minute and a half.
Volty’s two-for-one splat on hi’s Zink Mini Splatling and Snipewriter 5H.
Game two was at Sturgeon Shipyard; Azure banned Lemuria Hub and Museum d’Alfonsino. In Winner’s Round 3, these teams played on Sturgeon Shipyard, where hi took the win.
The game went nearly as fast as the previous one, only in the other direction. Just 20 seconds in, Azure was down three. Hi took the zone and tried locking out, but was unsuccessful. Both teams ended up down three while hi’s points ticked down—Azure was wiped out, and hi tied the set after a knockout just after two minutes in.
Game three went to Brinewater Springs. Hi banned Manta Maria and Um’ami Ruins, likely due to losing to Azure at Um’ami Ruins in their last set.
Azure took the zone in a swift 10 seconds. After some lead shuffling, Azure was once again ahead, finally stopped at 29 after hi disrupted their flow with a Big Bubbler. While hi was down three, Azure, despite being down two themselves, pressed forward to lock out, and with about two and a half minutes left, Azure took the knockout.
Game four went to Marlin Airport. Azure banned Hagglefish Market and Shipshape Cargo Co., crushing Cyren’s dream of getting to commentate a set on Hagglefish Market during this event.
Not even 20 seconds in, hi wiped Azure and were locking them out; by the one minute mark, they had the zone down to 30. While Azure managed to cap the zone, they struggled to maintain control for long and suffered from a lack of paint on the ground. Hi knocked out, bringing these two teams back to another game five set!
Game five, to determine the third qualifier for the GG Finals, was at… Bluefin Depot. In a burst of sarcastic commentator’s cursing (or perhaps clairvoyance?), Cyren and Magic predicted hi’s map bans, being Mahi-Mahi Resort and MakoMart.
Azure had the first lead in the game, able to get it down to 48. Even after being down three players twice, they regrouped well enough to prevent hi from taking the lead from them during their vulnerability. Hi did eventually take the lead, by just two points, but 30 seconds later, Azure was ahead, and after the two-minute mark, had their hard-fought victory, once more in a knockout!
After ten games across two sets, Azure rose from their Loser’s Bracket run to overtake hi and claim the final ticket from the qualifier to the First Edition Global Gauntlet Finals!
Winner’s Finals, Loser’s Finals, and Grand Finals were not played in this event, as the top 3 teams were already decided and earned their place at the GG1 Finals.
The event attracted several of the West’s best talent, and the outcome shows it. On stream, the overwhelming majority of matches ended in a knockout, with only three not wrapping up early, and even in those games, the scores were close, and none of them incurred overtime.
With the entire event featuring map bans, what were the event’s favorite maps to throw out? Urchin Underpass was the most banned map (20 strikes), with Flounder Heights (19 strikes) and Crableg Capital (17 strikes) taking second and third place. The top three selected stages were Hagglefish Market (8 selects), Undertow Spillway (5 selects), and Museum d’Alfonsino/Sturgeon Shipyard/MakoMart (3 selects each).
Who Has Qualified So Far?
Three and a half hours of intense Splatoon gameplay later, and the West has its first three contenders for the First Edition Global Gauntlet Finals on April 24, 2026:
- FTWin
- ezmd
- Azure
On Japan’s side, AREA CUP will be selecting teams to participate in the Global Gauntlet Finals. So far, three of them have been revealed:
- Zest
- Utopia
- 07 Quartet
Last year, both FTWin and Utopia participated in the premiere Splat World Series tournament and will be returning faces, at least in full by FTWin—Utopia’s roster has changed slightly, replacing Kyamyi and Niru with Inaten and Kasiwa. Samurai Kasato, captain of 07 Quartet, also competed in SWS 2025 as part of Samurai Cat, the second-place team.
On April 18th, the action returns for a second qualifier to determine the West’s final three teams who will go head-to-head against Japan’s handful of chosen teams. Which teams will we see come out on top? What new surprises lie in store? Make sure you’re there to see the spectacle!
Original Posting Date: April 16, 2026 at Splatoon Stronghold.
Written and formatted for publication by YELLOW.