WSOW Champion Hisoka Moves From Warzone to Call of Duty Challengers

Kasimili "Hisoka" Tongamoa's decision to enter Call of Duty Challengers for Black Ops 7 is one of the most notable roster moves so far this year. The announcement on January 7, 2026 signals a deliberate pivot away from battle-royale-focused competition toward the traditional multiplayer ladder that feeds the Call of Duty League. Hisoka arrives with major credentials: he is the reigning World Series of Warzone champion and an Esports World Cup titleholder, credentials that give immediate attention to Challengers matches and invite questions about how BR skillsets translate to 5v5 formats.

This development comes while the Elite event runs from January 7 to 22, an ongoing tournament that keeps Warzone in the spotlight even as uncertainty surrounds the broader 2026 Warzone esports calendar. Multiple players who made names in Warzone have been testing the waters in Challengers and CDL environments, and Hisoka's move reinforces a growing pattern: talent is repositioning toward structured league play that offers clearer season timelines, salaries, and pathway visibility.

For players, teams, and fans, the practical implications are immediate. Teams in Challengers and lower-tier CDL organizations will be watching how quickly Hisoka adapts to map-based play, set rounds, and team coordination demands that differ from battle royale pacing and tactics. For fans, expect increased viewership for Challengers matches as audiences follow high-profile transitions and gauge head-to-head competitiveness. For tournament organizers and sponsors, this shift signals an opportunity to market crossover stories and to recruit rising names who bring established followings.

Translating BR success into 5v5 results will hinge on several factors: time spent scrimming, integration with a regular roster, and mastery of Black Ops 7's maps and meta. Watch for possible bootcamps and roster announcements in the coming weeks as organizations move to capitalize on Hisoka's availability. Challengers outcomes will also influence whether CDL teams pursue him as a future roster signing, since Challengers remains the primary proving ground for promotion to the league.

In short, Hisoka's move is more than an individual career choice; it underscores a shifting competitive landscape as Warzone stars weigh stability and visibility against the unpredictability of the BR circuit. Follow Challengers match schedules and roster news closely over the next month to see how this migration reshapes early Black Ops 7 competition.