Intense Competition Kicks Off at PUBG Global Series 1 Finals

On March 21, 2026, the final stage of the PUBG Global Series 1 (PGS1), a premier global esports tournament for PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, kicked off in Seoul's Seongsu-dong. Sixteen teams, having successfully navigated through the group, winners, and survivor stages, gathered to compete, promising an exciting showdown.

PGS is widely recognized as the international face of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds esports. This year marks a significant turning point as the tournament has announced a restructuring that will extend into a circuit system, combining three competitions under one umbrella. The PGS1 serves as the inaugural event of this new format, showcasing the latest game mechanics and strategies.

In the Korean region, four teams qualified for PGS1, but only DN SuperS and T1 made it to the final stage. Over the course of two days, these teams will engage in ten matches against 14 other global competitors, all vying for the coveted championship trophy.

The first match of the finals set the stage for high-stakes action. The game took place on Erangel, where the central zone shifted to the southwestern region of Primorsk. This led to intense confrontations as teams moved through the map. T1 faced an early setback, losing a player to Full Sense (FS) right at the beginning. As the match progressed, teams that had secured positions inside the safe zone clashed with those still fighting their way in, leading to several early eliminations.

Among the first to fall was Cerberus (FCE), who couldn't withstand the onslaught from Full Sense. As the fifth safe zone emerged, the fighting intensified, with S2G, eArena (EA), and FUR all facing elimination. Fortunately for the Korean teams, they found themselves positioned well within the safe zone, increasing their chances of survival. However, T1, with fewer members, was pushed out by Twisted Minds (TWIS) and failed to reach the top four.

In contrast, DN SuperS managed to dominate against FUR and 4AM, expanding their territory and eliminating competitors. They faced a challenge from Jingdong, but DN SuperS's composed gameplay led them to victory, securing the first match's chicken dinner and finishing in first place.

The second match took place on Miramar, where Petricor Road (PeRo), having performed well in earlier stages, failed to overcome Cerberus and was quickly eliminated. The Expendables (TE) raised their profile with impressive kills, climbing into the mid-tier rankings. The safe zone narrowed down to the central Kendra area, presenting significant challenges for teams located on the outskirts. T1, unfortunately, could not withstand the assault from Natus Vincere (NAVI) and was eliminated early. DN SuperS also struggled against 4AM, wrapping up their match prematurely.

Ultimately, the top four teams in the second match were AnyOne's Legend (AL), Twisted Minds (TWIS), 4AM, and Jingdong, with AL claiming the chicken dinner.

After the first two matches, the cumulative leaderboard saw 4AM taking the lead, bolstered by kill points despite a lower ranking score. DN SuperS followed closely in second place, thanks to their strong performance in the initial match.

As the first day of the finals progressed, anticipation grew for the remaining matches. The event is set to continue with matches five through ten, as fans eagerly await to see which team will ultimately claim the title.

Prior to the finals, on March 20, Krafton hosted the survival stage of the PGS Circuit 1, which is structured to accumulate scores across three series. This inaugural event of the year welcomed a total of 24 teams, comprising 12 global partners and 12 regionally qualified teams. The series ran from March 18 to 22, including group, winners, survival, and final stages.

During the winners stage held on March 19, DN SuperS and T1 finished in third and fourth place, respectively, both securing tickets to the finals with identical scores of 44 points (9 and 8 ranking points). However, the Korean teams Crazy Raccoon and Gen.G fell short, needing to compete in the survival stage after failing to qualify for the finals.

In the survival stage, despite Gen.G maintaining a consistent position within the top eight, they could not secure enough points in the final match, finishing in tenth place. Crazy Raccoon struggled throughout the day, ultimately wrapping up their participation in the survival stage in fifteenth place.

Fans can watch all matches streamed live on official channels, including the PUBG esports YouTube channel and various co-streaming platforms featuring popular streamers.

The excitement is palpable as the PGS1 finals continue, with teams battling it out for glory and a chance to etch their names in the annals of esports history.