Nassim "nass" Bali from Gentle Mates is the new 1v1 World Champion in Rocket League after defeating reigning champion Hisham "Nwpo" Alqadi 4-2 in the grand final on September 18, 2026. The victory earned him a prize of $50,000.
The result is a notable sporting achievement, as Nwpo entered the tournament as the defending titleholder — and now leaves it without having defended his crown. The title change also occurs under circumstances that highlight Nwpo's limited preparation time: Twisted Minds were eliminated from the 3v3 playoffs by Spacestation Gaming with a 2-4 defeat, and Nwpo went directly from his team's exit into the 1v1 competition.
The tournament brought together four regional representatives: Nass from Europe, João "diaz" Henrique from North America, Danilo "kv1" Michelini from South America, and Nwpo from MENA. In the semifinals, Nass defeated diaz 4-2, while Nwpo beat kv1 4-1 to secure a spot in the final. The total prize pool for the 1v1 event was $85,000, and all four participants were guaranteed at least $10,000.
For Nass, the title is not his only achievement this season — he also won the RLCS 2026 Boston Major in the 3v3 format. And the championship weekend is not over for him: he continues in the 3v3 tournament with Gentle Mates, who have already defeated Man City Esports in the playoff round.
The fact that the title changes hands here — at the World Championship, the most prestigious event in the RLCS calendar — gives Nass' victory extra weight. Nwpo not only loses the title, but hands it over to an opponent who, in the same week, is fighting on two fronts.