EDG Smoggy Will Not Play in the EWC Due to Health Issues

EDward Gaming Announces Smoggy Will Not Play in the EWC

Zhang “Smoggy” Zhao is part of EDward Gaming’s core roster. Since 2022, he has represented the Chinese VALORANT org EDward Gaming. Smoggy helped win VALORANT Champions 2024, meaning he has achieved the title’s highest esports success, and holds plenty of accolades at Masters and VCT China stage events.

The community considered EDward Gaming’s performance lacking in early 2025, especially as they fumbled at some key events. In 2026, they are back with a vengeance. The team placed first at China Stage 1, and they climbed to 3rd place in Masters London. As of June 2026, EDward Gaming holds first place in VCT China points standings, so there’s a good chance fans will see them in Champions Paris 2026, the year’s most important event.

However, just as things were looking up, EDward Gaming’s official X.com account has made an announcement: Smoggy will not be participating in the 2026 Esports World Cup.

Why is Smoggy Not Playing in the EWC?

The reveal, which arrived on June 30, 2026, stated that Smoggy has experienced health issues. During Masters London, he was reportedly in severe pain due to inflammation in his teeth. The team also announced Smoggy had surgery to remove his wisdom teeth during the VCT off-season, and he is currently recovering.

EDG writes: “Due to the necessary recovery period following the surgery, Smoggy will be unable to participate in the upcoming EWC.” The team reassured fans that “EDG Health Center will provide support for Smoggy’s post-operative recovery.” Smoggy will return, and the post also wrote: “The club will continue to monitor Smoggy’s recovery and surgery progress, and we look forward to seeing him return to the stage in better form for future competitions.”

Head Coach Signed Will Sub for EDG Smoggy

While Smoggy takes a break to recover, coach Tang “signed” Dale Ao will step in as a substitute. This is a relatively unusual move, as many teams source subs from a roster of inactive players. Signed has worked in the competitive VALORANT scene since the game’s release in 2020. Notably, he is also a former Overwatch player, which may provide some unique dynamics in his playstyle and coaching methods.

The Esports World Cup does not impact a team’s stats in the official VCT circuit, so this won’t affect EDG’s chances at Champions Paris. However, the tournament is still a major S-tier event on its own, and roster changes so soon before a match are certainly a risk.

VALORANT in the Esports World Cup

The Esports World Cup’s VALORANT tournament will begin on Thursday, July 2nd, 2026. It will conclude with a Grand Finals on Sunday, July 12, 2026.

In 2026, the EMEA org Team Heretics took the crown and won 500,000 USD. This year, they’ll be defending their title against opponents. 2026 EWC teams will meet in Paris, France; the ‘city of lights.’

The Esports World Cup’s sister event, the Esports Nations Cup, will occur later this year in November. Check out our player and team guide here.

What is the Esports World Cup? How to Watch

The Esports World Cup is an international esports competition with one of the largest prize pools in the industry. In 2026, over 75 million USD will be available to players and their orgs. Rosters compete as partnered club teams. The EWC includes over 25 tournaments, each focusing on a particular game, and spans over a month.

The event, which was founded in 2024, has faced some controversy in the esports community. It is organized by the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF), a non-profit based in Saudi Arabia. The EWCF receives government funding from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). This has led some community members to question whether the competition is genuinely about celebrating national pride; others have accused the organization of ‘sportswashing.’

The Esports World Cup has a YouTube Channel, @ewc, where it livestreams matches. In addition, the EWC is active on Twitch at https://www.twitch.tv/ewc and has a dedicated website here.