Esports World Cup 2025 heads into fourth week with four big titles up for grabs

The Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh is entering its fourth week with 11 unique champions having been crowned. (SUPPLIED)
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Updated 01 August 2025
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Esports World Cup 2025 heads into fourth week with four big titles up for grabs

  • Eleven champions have been crowned at the tournament so far

RIYADH: The Esports World Cup 2025 heads into Week 4 after the crowning of 11 unique championship winners so far.

In the tournament’s fourth week, the chess title will be decided. With a $1,500,000 prize pool on the line — along with Club Championship points — there's all to play for. Meanwhile PUBG Mobile World Cup will have a new champion after titleholders Alpha7 Esports were eliminated. Overwatch 2 will crown its Midseason Championship winner, while Mobile Legends: Bang Bang’s Midseason Cup final will also take place.

Chess

With a prize pool of $1.5 million up for grabs, the inaugural chess tournament at the 2025 Esports World Cup concludes on Aug. 1. The Last Chance Qualifiers saw 256 players enter, and now there are just eight contenders left. First seed Magnus Carlsen was the clear favorite before the tournament began, with second and third seeds Hikaru Nakamura and Ian Nepomniachtchi next in line. All three qualified from the group stage and now head into the playoffs. Keep an eye on Nihal Sarin, who managed to knock out number four seed Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the Group B lower bracket final – he emerged from the Last Chance Qualifier and is seeded just outside the top 10. 

PUBG Mobile

An intense week of PUBG Mobile action has seen 24 teams whittled down to 16 for the grand final, with potentially just 14 matches deciding who walks out with the trophy. Defending champions, Alpha7 Esports, had a nightmare start to the tournament, failing to qualify for the grand final in the group stage, forcing them into the perilous survival stage. While many expected them to bounce back, another disastrous performance saw them eliminated in 21st place, meaning a new PMWC champion will be crowned in the coming days.

Overwatch 2 

The Overwatch Champions Series' Midseason Championship also takes place in Week 4, with $1 million on the line. Sixteen teams will enter the group stage, with the top two from each group advancing into a perilous single elimination bracket. With the OWCS: Midseason Championship at the 2025 Esports World Cup happening over four days, expect some top tier action. EWC 2024 champions Crazy Raccoon will be looking to join the two-time winners club, but they will face stiff competition from one of the most competitive fields ever.

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang 

With a total of $3 million up for grabs in the prize pool, the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mid Season Cup has plenty at stake. After the dramatic Wildcard tournament in Week 1 followed by an intense group stage in Week 3, we are now firmly into the business end of the tournament, with the playoff bracket underway. Only the very best teams remain, with the likes of ONIC and Team Liquid leading the way. With life-changing money on the line, you do not want to miss the MLBB action. 

Club Championship Standings 

As the action heads into its fourth weekend of finals action, the Club Championship is really heating up, with every winner being a unique Club so far. Will we finally see a side claim a second trophy this year in Week 4?

Team Vitality is still leading the Club Championship Rankings with 2,400 points, having not gained in Week 3. Their closest competitors are Gen.G Esports on 2,000, and Team Falcons on 1,950, both of whom gained on Vitality in Week 3. Elsewhere, AG.AL have joined Team Falcons in third place. All but AG.AL are represented in chess, while Team Falcons has a side in the PUBG Mobile event. OW 2 features Team Falcons and AG.AL, alongside Virtus.Pro and Team Liquid, who sit just behind them in joint fifth place.


Leeds survive Birmingham scare to reach FA Cup fifth round

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Leeds survive Birmingham scare to reach FA Cup fifth round

  • Wolves also avoided an upset as they won 1-0 at fourth-division Grimsby

LONDON: Leeds survived an FA Cup scare to reach the fifth round with a penalty shoot-out victory against second-tier Birmingham on Sunday.

Birmingham substitute Patrick Roberts snatched an 89th-minute equalizer at St. Andrew’s to cancel out Lukas Nmecha’s 49th-minute opener for Leeds.

With a feisty fourth round tie level at 1-1 after extra-time, Leeds won the shoot-out 4-2.

Joel Piroe, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Brenden Aaronson and Sean Longstaff all converted their penalties for Daniel Farke’s team.

Tommy Doyle’s effort was saved by Leeds goalkeeper Lucas Perri before Roberts fired over the crossbar.

Battling to avoid relegation from the Premier League, Leeds are one win away from reaching the quarterfinals for the first time since 2003.

Wolves also avoided an upset as they won 1-0 at fourth-division Grimsby.

Grimsby stunned Manchester United in the League Cup earlier this season.

But Wolves avoided similar embarrassment thanks to Santiago Bueno’s 60th-minute goal from the visitors’ first shot on target on a mud-caked pitch at Blundell Park.

Grimsby did not manage to force Wolves ‘keeper Sam Johnstone into a save until Andy Cook’s header in the 90th minute.

It was Wolves’ first away win since beating Manchester United in April.

Mired in a miserable season that has left them bottom of the Premier League and almost certain to be relegated, Rob Edwards’ side can still salvage some pride in the FA Cup.

Fulham came from behind to win 2-1 at second tier Stoke.

Cottagers boss Marco Silva made 10 changes from their midweek defeat at Manchester City and nearly paid for the gamble.

South Korean midfielder Bae Jun-ho capped a fine move to put Stoke ahead after 19 minutes.

But Brazilian winger Kevin got his reward for an impressive performance in the 55th minute, sending a first-time shot into the bottom corner.

Harrison Reed completed Fulham’s escape act in the 84th minute, intercepting a poor pass from Stoke keeper Tommy Simkin and slotting home.

Sunderland reached the fifth round for the first time since 2015 as Habib Diarra’s controversial penalty clinched a 1-0 win at second tier Oxford.

Regis Le Bris’ side went in front after 32 minutes when Dennis Cirkin tumbled under Christ Makosso’s challenge.

Referee Thomas Kirk pointed to the spot despite Oxford’s protests and Diarra rubbed salt into their wounds as he calmly converted the penalty.