EWC 2025 Dota 2: Group Stage Results and Elimination Phase Schedule

The Esports World Cup 2025 (EWC 2025) Group Stage has concluded for the Dota 2 event, and we have some interesting results to report. While Groups A and B wrapped up cleanly, Groups C and D needed extra tiebreaker matches to settle their standings.

Despite no teams being eliminated in the Group Stage, we got a clear picture of how each roster is performing right now. Team Spirit showed that their unexpected slump ahead of EWC 2025 was only temporary, bouncing back with strong games. Meanwhile, Gaimin Gladiators, Tundra Esports, and PARIVISION still seem to be struggling to regain their top form.

The EWC 2025 has already shown us what to expect from these teams moving forward. 

EWC 2025 Dota 2: Expectations Adjusted

The first phase brought a mix of surprises and expected outcomes across all four groups:

Group A wrapped up with Team Spirit advancing directly to the Playoffs and Natus Vincere taking second place, securing a spot in the second round of the Elimination Phase. Xtreme Gaming and Flipster Talon Esports advance to the first round of the Elimination Phase — but with the added pressure of an extra match to stay alive.

In Group B, BetBoom Team once again reinforced Eastern Europe’s dominance, claiming a direct Playoff spot. The Gaimin Gladiators placed second and move to the second round of the Elimination Phase, while Team Falcons and Execration placed third and fourth and will begin their run in the first round.

The first tiebreaker of the day happened in Group C, deciding first place between Aurora Gaming and Tundra Esports. Aurora came out on top and moves straight to the Playoffs, while Tundra will start in the second round of the Elimination Phase. Team Yandex and Virtus.pro remain in the competition through the first round and will need to climb the bracket step by step.

Finally, Group D also needed a tiebreaker to decide second place, as Team Liquid secured first with two wins and a draw. PARIVISION won the tiebreaker against Heroic, claiming second and a bye into the second round. Heroic, despite their impressive showing against PARIVISION, now face sudden-death matches from square one alongside Shopify Rebellion.

Heroic gave their all, but Team Liquid still secured first place. – Credit: Twitter (@EWC_Extra)

Teams Qualified Directly to the Playoffs

Here’s the list of teams already locked into the Playoffs after the Group Stage:

• Team Spirit (Group A)
• BetBoom Team (Group B)
• Aurora Gaming (Group C)
• Team Liquid (Group D)

Elimination Phase Schedule

As announced, the Elimination Phase will be played in a Gauntlet Bracket format. Teams that placed second through fourth in the Group Stage now face single-elimination best-of-three (BO3) matches — no second chances. Here’s how the schedule looks, all times in GMT:

Bracket A

• July 12th – 09:00 — Xtreme Gaming vs. Execration
• July 13th – 09:00 — PARIVISION vs. Round 1 Winner

Bracket B

• July 12th – 12:30 — Team Yandex vs. Shopify Rebellion
• July 13th – 12:30 — Gaimin Gladiators vs. Round 1 Winner

Bracket C

• July 12th – 12:30 — Heroic vs. Talon Esports
• July 13th – 12:30 — Tundra Esports vs. Round 1 Winner

Bracket D

• July 12th – 16:00 — Team Falcons vs. Virtus.pro
• July 13th – 16:00 — Natus Vincere vs. Round 1 Winner

EWC 2025 Dota 2: Matches to Watch

To wrap up, here are our picks for the most interesting matchups to keep an eye on. On July 12, Brackets C and D look especially promising. Heroic impressed during the Group Stage against both Team Liquid and PARIVISION. Now, they have no option but to beat Talon Esports to stay in the running.

Meanwhile, Team Falcons delivered solid performances during Groups, while Virtus.pro lost all three matches and now enter as the dark horse of their bracket. This means we could see Falcons facing Natus Vincere next — another chapter in the classic “rising underdogs vs. fallen powerhouse” narrative that keeps popping up in NaVi's history.

July 13th also has potential thrillers lined up. PARIVISION and Tundra Esports still have what it takes to fight for the title but have been inconsistent so far. Both face do-or-die matches — any early exit would be a huge surprise and shake up predictions for the rest of the tournament.

If you want to stay updated as the EWC 2025 Dota 2 action unfolds, be sure to follow our step-by-step coverage in the news section of the Strafe website!

Featured Image Source: Twitter (@EWC_EN)