South Korea secured the overall championship at the Esports Championships Asia 2026 (ECA 2026), held at the Jinju Indoor Gymnasium in Gyeongsangnam-do on the 26th.

The tournament, which ran from April 24 to 26, drew a total of 5,425 spectators, with 1,353 attending on Friday, 2,676 on Saturday, and 1,396 on Sunday.

ECA 2026 featured seven participating nations—South Korea, China, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and Mongolia—competing in Eternal Return, fighting games, PUBG Mobile, eFootball, and Steppin (demonstration event). South Korea claimed the title with a total of 2,625 points, earning 500 points for second place in fighting games, 500 points for second in PUBG Mobile, 375 points in the Steppin individual event, 250 points in the team event, and 1,000 points for winning in Eternal Return. Vietnam took second place, and Japan finished third.

The outcome was decided on the final day. Although South Korea placed second behind Vietnam in PUBG Mobile on the morning of the 26th, Lee Se-yeon and Kim Ha-yul swept both the individual and team titles in the K-pop dance AI event, Steppin (demonstration). In the afternoon, both the Daegu Guardians and Yangju Whales performed strongly in Eternal Return, securing the 1,000 points needed for the overall victory.

At the closing ceremony, Kim Young-man, President of the Korea e-Sports Association, stated, "The 2026 Esports Championships Asia, held in Jinju over the past three days, has now come to a grand conclusion. It was a meaningful time to confirm the significance and potential of this event, as a record-breaking 120 athletes from seven countries competed with passion and pride across various titles. This tournament was more than just a competition; it was a venue for harmony, mutual understanding, and exchange.

The friendships and experiences built by the athletes and officials from each country will serve as a valuable foundation for expanding international esports exchange and cooperation in the future. I would also like to express my deep gratitude to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Gyeongsangnam-do, and Jinju City for their generous support in making this event a success.