Source: Nexon

Nexon (co-CEOs Kang Dae-hyun and Kim Jung-wook) announced on the 28th that the Korean team 'Hybu' won the third cycle of the 'The Grand Major Online Series' APAC league, a global esports tournament for the team-based FPS game 'THE FINALS®' developed by its subsidiary Embark Studios (CEO Patrick Söderlund), marking their second consecutive victory.

'The Grand Major Online Series' is the official global esports tournament for 'THE FINALS,' where teams earn points across four annual cycles to qualify for the year-end international event, 'TGM Grand Final 2026.' The TOP 8 finals for the third APAC cycle were broadcast globally on July 25, featuring eight teams: Korea's 'Hybu' and 'Ace Skirmisher,' China's 'KingZero,' 'DRG,' and '4AM,' the Korea-Australia joint team '777rs,' the Korea-Japan joint team 'Hanabi,' and Thailand's 'PSAD,' which made its first TOP 8 appearance.

In this cycle, '777rs' dominated '4AM' in the first round to advance directly to the finals. In the subsequent winner's bracket match on the 'Sys Horizon' map, 'Hybu' faced 'DRG,' with 'Hybu' player 'Latte' leading the team to the finals by recording 8 kills using the heavy build's 'KS-23' shotgun. In the following third and fourth rounds, Chinese teams 'DRG' and 'KingZero' secured victories to join the finals.

The final match took place on the 'Monaco' map, featuring a rematch between '777rs,' 'Hybu,' 'DRG,' and 'KingZero.' While the Korean teams initially held the lead, 'KingZero' turned the tide by stealing a cashout from '777rs,' leaving 'DRG' and 'Hybu' to advance to the final showdown. In the ensuing three final matches, 'DRG' applied pressure through player 'Dime's' healing gadget utility and player 'Shuai's' combat control, but 'Hybu' pulled off a dramatic last-second cashout steal and utilized strategic time-delay plays to secure a comeback victory and the championship.

Having placed first in both the second and third cycles, 'Hybu' earned an additional 100 points and $2000 in prize money, bringing their total to 230 points and securing the top spot on the APAC leaderboard. 'KingZero' and 'DRG' are closely trailing with 225 and 200 cumulative points, respectively, setting the stage for a fierce competition in the final cycle. Other participating teams were awarded points and prize money based on their final rankings. Additionally, a 'Drops' event was held on the official Korean broadcast channels, Chzzk and SOOP, offering Naver Pay vouchers to viewers who watched for a certain duration.

Meanwhile, Nexon is now accepting registrations for the final cycle of the 'The Grand Major Online Series' APAC league. Applications can be submitted via the official tournament organizer 'FACEIT' website until 9:00 AM on August 8. Teams of up to four players, including one substitute, are eligible to apply.

More information about 'THE FINALS' can be found on the official website and community channels.