GANYMEDE Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato City, Tokyo; CEO: Daisuke Nishihara) is pleased to announce that SugarZ3ro, a player from ZETA DIVISION's VALORANT division—the professional esports team operated by the company—has been selected as a member of Japan's national team for the international esports tournament 'Esports Nations Cup 2026' (hereinafter 'ENC2026'). After advancing through the Asian regional qualifiers held from June 27 (Sat) to 28 (Sun), the team has officially secured a spot in the main event.

About the 'Esports Nations Cup'

The 'Esports Nations Cup' is one of the world’s largest esports national team competitions, where players represent their countries rather than individual clubs. ENC2026 will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 8 (Sun), 2026, to November 15 (Sun), 2026, featuring a total of 32 participating nations and offering a prize pool of 1.5 million USD (approximately 225 million JPY).

Japan's VALORANT national team consists of eight players selected from DetonatioN FocusMe, ZETA DIVISION, FENNEL, REJECT, and QT DIG∞. SugarZ3ro was chosen to represent ZETA DIVISION. Two slots were available for the Asian region in the main event, with the qualifying rounds held from June 26 (Fri) to June 28 (Sun).

Results of the Esports Nations Cup Asian Qualifiers

Match against Mongolia (Upper Bracket Quarterfinal) Played on Split, Japan took an 8-4 lead in the first half while playing as attackers. Switching to defenders in the second half, Japan maintained strong composure, winning key pistol rounds and ultimately securing a decisive 13-5 victory.

Match against India (Upper Bracket Semifinal) On Haven, Japan extended their lead to 9-3 in the first half and continued their offensive momentum in the second half, winning convincingly by 13-5 and advancing to the Upper Bracket Final.

Match against Hong Kong (Upper Bracket Final) Japan won the series 2-0 in maps. The first map, Haven, was a close contest that Japan narrowly won 13-11. On the second map, Lotus, Japan overcame a difficult start, used a timeout to regain momentum, and secured a 13-8 victory.

With these results, Japan secured first place in the Asian region and qualified directly for the main event.

Comment from SugarZ3ro

As this is my first time participating in a national team competition, I'm relieved and grateful to have been selected for Team Japan and to have successfully advanced through the qualifiers to reach the global stage.

Playing alongside an all-star lineup of Japanese players reminded me just how incredibly skilled and talented everyone is. Despite having only a few days of practice together, I truly enjoyed every moment and found the experience highly stimulating and enriching.

This tournament has drawn significant attention, so the pressure was intense. However, I'm glad we were able to support each other and overcome it as a team.

On a personal level, I’m far from satisfied.

Although we won the matches, I deeply regret not fully showcasing my strengths as both an in-game leader (IGL) and individual performer.

I will continue to work hard and strive to grow even further.

To all our fans: Thank you so much for supporting Team Japan late into the night. Your encouragement means everything.

We are determined to prove that Japan can compete on the world stage. As a united team, we'll give it our all—please continue to support us!

SugarZ3ro will compete as a member of Team Japan at the 'Esports Nations Cup 2026' main event, to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in November 2026.

ZETA DIVISION will continue striving to reach the pinnacle of global competition, focusing not only on VALORANT but also on various other esports titles.

About ZETA DIVISION

Founded in 2018, ZETA DIVISION is a leading brand dedicated to establishing a gaming lifestyle and continuously pioneering new gaming cultures.

We aim to enrich the lives of gamers and the surrounding culture, discover new creators, and shape the next generation of digital culture. By promoting innovative styles beyond traditional boundaries, we strive toward a future where gaming culture becomes a widely embraced and shared value.

Web: https://zetadivision.com

X: https://x.com/zetadivision

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zetadivision

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ZETADIVISION

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zetadivision

FACT BOX

  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: eスポーツ
  • Organizations: ZETA DIVISION / DetonatioN FocusMe / FENNEL