RIYADH: As the second weekend of the Esports World Cup finals in Riyadh beckons, the Club Championship has already started to take shape.
So far Gen.G Esports, Team Heretics, DetonatioN FocusMe, BMW M Team Redline, Red Bull Sim Racing and VK GAMING are the sides out in front, each with 1,000 Club points.
However, their positions could still come under threat in the coming days. Saudi Arabia’s Team Falcons might end the weekend in first place, with rosters competing in multiple games in the coming days.
But with Gen.G a firm favorite in League of Legends, they too are in a strong position to stand alone at the top of the table come Monday. With plenty more Club Championship points on offer, it is still anyone’s game.
League of Legends
One of the biggest titles to take place during the EWC is underway, and an incredible knockout competition is expected.
The first day of League of Legends action had two sides head home: North American Cloud9 and Vietnamese team GAM Esports.
While many teams have clawed their way through to the knockout stage, 2024 Esports World Cup Champions T1 will join the fray on July 18 to defend their title, and truly test the mettle of their rivals.
Aside from T1, the only side that finished in the top four in last year’s competition and is represented this year is Europe’s G2 Esports. The League of Legends EMEA Championship team secured a spot in the knockout stage after a 2-0 finish on day one.
With some exciting matchups ahead of the final this weekend, there are many upsets expected.
Dota 2
Dota 2’s epic two weeks of action finally conclude this weekend with a $3 million prize pool on the line.
Team Spirit and PVISION are locked in for the semifinals after victories in the quarterfinals, with more teams set to join them in the coming days. But some big names are already eliminated.
The 2024 champions Gaimin Gladiators have fallen in fifth to eighth place, meaning a new champion will be crowned in 2025. And with all the top seeded teams qualifying for the playoffs, the title race is wide open.
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Women’s Invitational
The Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Women’s Invitational concludes this week on July 19.
At the end of play on July 16, Team Liquid, Natus Vincere PH, ONIC Pertiwi Team, and Team Vitality have secured their slots in the playoffs. With just two days of competition, things are moving fast, with eight sides knocked out.
Now in its second year as a part of the EWC roster, the MLBB MWI features a $500,000 prize pool and presents a truly massive stage for women stars.
Team Vitality have been the most impressive, not dropping a single game so far. They also set a record for the fastest game in MWI history with 9 minutes, 38 seconds, but NAVI topped them by 1 second a few days later.
Free Fire
Mobile title Free Fire at the 2025 Esports World Cup kicked off with six fast-paced maps, setting the tone for what is shaping up to be a wide-open fight for the championship.
After day one, Team Falcons lead the standings with the Thai roster showcasing dominance, but a resurgence from the Brazilian teams including paiN Gaming and Fluxo mean everything is still in play.
However, as with Apex Legends in week one, anything can happen when it comes to battle royale titles and one good day is not enough to secure a trophy.
With the action closing on July 20, there is plenty of time for more surprises and upsets. And with Free Fire players known for their brash antics, there could be some drama in the closing stages.
