The Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship 2026 has come to a close, and by the end of the weekend, four champions emerged with titles across the game’s different formats. From Rush Duel to Master Duel, each bracket had its own path to the top, and each winner had their own story about how they got there. Shortly after the results were finalized, we managed to catch each champion for a quick chat while the moment was still fresh, and they were kind enough to share how they felt, what got them through their toughest matches, and what they plan to do next. Here’s a look at what each of them had to say.

Takuma Kitamura Takes the Rush Duel Crown

Takuma Kitamura came out on top of the Rush Duel bracket, and when asked how he felt right after the win, he kept it simple. “I’m really happy. I feel like the last match was really fun,” he said. That last match, against an opponent named Vic Viper, turned out to be the hardest one he faced all tournament.

Looking back at the run as a whole, Kitamura pointed to a decision made all the way back in his very first match as the turning point. He was playing a Royal Demon’s deck against a HERO deck, and had to make a call on when to use his Shiny Shady trap card. “When the first Wingman came out, I chose not to activate the Shiny Shady trap, and then activated the trap when the second one came out. I think that was probably my best play,” he explained.

As for what comes next, Kitamura wants to use his win to help grow the Rush Duel format itself. “This time, I was able to work hard on Rush Duel, and I really understood the fun of Rush Duel. So, I hope I can pass this on to other people. I think I’d like to get more people into Rush Duel and really help people learn how enjoyable Rush Duel is,” he said.

Snyffus Becomes the First Back-to-Back Champion

In the Speed Duel bracket, Snyffus made history by winning the World Championship for the second year in a row. Even after the win, he admitted it hadn’t quite hit him yet.

“It feels pretty surreal. I can’t actually believe that this happened, and I don’t think it has really sunk in yet.”

The final wasn’t without its tense moments. Snyffus said his opponent picked a deck against him that he had actually been worried about beforehand. “When I saw that he actually used that deck against me, I was very worried for a second. But then I think I composed myself very well. I didn’t get overly scared in the second game, and I still sent the perfect counterpick for his deck,” he said, adding that staying calm in that moment was a big part of why he pulled through.

He also gave credit to some good fortune along the way. “I think I definitely got lucky overall in the finals, which, when your opponent is that strong, is definitely a part of the game. But yeah, I’m just glad it worked out,” he said.

When asked what’s next, Snyffus looked back on how he approached things after his first title. “Last year when I became champion, I also asked myself, ‘What’s my future plan now?’ And I got home and I was like, ‘Well, I guess I’m going to try to win again.'” That mindset paid off, and he confirmed he plans to defend his title again next season. He closed things out with a message to his supporters.

“Thanks to all my fans, thanks to all my friends for supporting me, and my family, because I would not have been able to do it without you.”

Called By Army Claims the Master Duel Title

The Master Duel bracket was won by the team Called By Army, made up of three players from Korea: Minsung Kim, Jisuk Kim, and Hyunsoo Lee.  As team leader, Minsung Kim summed up his reaction to the win simply: “I’m really happy for the win.” For Jisuk Kim, the victory carried extra weight after a previous near-miss. The team had reached the Top 4 in Seattle before, and a mistake in that run had stuck with him. “I felt that my mistake prevented the team from going further, I was very worried about it. So, I’m really happy about this result,” he said.

Looking toward the future, Minsung Kim set his sights on more than just one title. “Since we won the championship this season, I hope that we can continue winning next year and for the next five years as well. I want us to keep winning championships for at least another two or three years, or even longer,” he said. He also had a message for fans watching the team’s journey.

“I honestly never thought that I would win the championship like this. I’ve always admired the other players whenever I watched them win championships, but I hope the fans can see that if you work hard, you can achieve a championship like this too. That’s what I want to tell the fans.”

With all four titles now decided, the Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship 2026 closes out with a mix of firsts and repeats, from Snyffus becoming the first back-to-back champion in his division, to Called By Army finally breaking through after a past Top 4 finish. Each champion now turns their attention to what comes next, whether that’s growing their format, defending a title, or getting ready for the next tournament on the calendar.

Mario Angelo De Micco Wins TCG/OCG Title

Representing Canada, Mario Angelo De Micco took home the TCG/OCG World Championship. As for how the win felt, he described it as a release more than anything else.

“I’m feeling very relieved right now. It feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I’m very happy with the outcome.”

When asked about being a Canadian champion, De Micco pointed out this wasn’t the first time it had happened. “We actually did have another Canadian World Champion a long time ago. He was one of my friends, and his name was Sehabi. He was also from Montreal, so now we have two World Champions from Montreal,” he said.

The road to the win had a rough patch during the second game of the final, where his hand didn’t line up the way he wanted. “I basically knew almost immediately when I drew my hand that I was going to lose if his hand was somewhat fine. I had two starters, but I also had three Imperms. Imperm is fine against his deck, but it’s not the best either. I wouldn’t mind having one Imperm, but three was a lot,” he said.

Looking ahead, De Micco already has his next event in mind. “I did book my tickets to go to YCS Paris. I wasn’t sure if I was going to go or not. It depended on how I felt after this event, but I think I will go. I’m going to book my plane ticket when I get home.” He also thanked those who supported him along the way.

“I wouldn’t be here without you guys, my friends, my family, everyone watching. Thank you.”