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Team Spirit Are The EWC 2025 Dota 2 Champions
The Esports World Cup 2025 (EWC 2025) was an exciting and unpredictable event, until the grand finals— especially for Team Spirit fans. After a series of underwhelming results in previous tournaments, Team Spirit finally claimed the EWC 2025 trophy.
Despite falling short of the championship title, Team Falcons delivered an equally impressive performance. Their evolution was even more surprising than Team Spirit’s and happened thanks to an important change behind the scenes.
Team Spirit is Back in the EWC 2025
First, let’s look at Team Spirit’s journey to the Grand Finals, starting from the Group Stage. Spirit was placed in Group A alongside Natus Vincere, Xtreme Gaming, and Flipster Talon Esports. Considering this was a relatively easy group, it was no surprise they came out on top.
After tying with Xtreme Gaming on the first day of groups, Team Spirit defeated Natus Vincere and Talon Esports to secure their Playoffs spot. Skipping the Elimination Phase proved to be a huge advantage, giving them time to rest and return in full force for the Playoffs.
In the Playoffs, Team Spirit ended the Gaimin Gladiators’ run with a convincing 2–0 victory. Not long after, they also sent PARIVISION to the Third Place decider with another clean 2–0 and two aegis steals by Collapse, punching their ticket to the Grand Finals.
Team Falcons Make Their Own Comeback
Alongside Spirit’s resurgence, fans were amazed by how Team Falcons managed to reemerge as a contestant so dramatically at EWC 2025. Falcons’ secret behind this sudden surge was handing the role of drafter and captain from Jingjun “Sneyking” Wu to Ammar “ATF” Al-Assaf.
This change proved crucial, as Team Falcons had a slow start in the Group Stage. They advanced through Group B to the first round of the Elimination Phase after tying against Execration and Gaimin Gladiators and losing to BetBoom Team.
In the Elimination Phase, Team Falcons finally showed their talons. They swept Virtus.pro and Natus Vincere 2–0 to survive and secure a spot in the Playoffs. This was the beginning of an unlikely run that would require a flawless single-elimination performance to continue.
An Improbable Run in the Playoffs
Even after reaching the Playoffs, Falcons’ run remained a near miracle. They overcame Team Liquid — the current TI Champions — and Tundra Esports, one of the pre-tournament favorites, both by 2–0, despite having played extra matches in the Elimination Phase.
This remarkable run earned them a shot at the Grand Finals. On one hand, reaching that point was already an incredible feat; on the other, they still needed to defy the odds once again, this time against Team Spirit in a best-of-five.
Team Spirit Dominates the Grand Finals in the EWC 2025
Team Falcons arrived at the Grand Finals after a long, grueling journey that seemed unlikely, if not impossible, at the start of EWC 2025. Unfortunately for them, their luck — or stamina — ran out in the final showdown, as Team Spirit quickly made it clear who would come out on top.
Team Spirit scored more kills in Game 3 alone than Team Falcons managed across all three maps combined — a testament to their utter dominance. After this commanding 3–0 victory, Team Spirit became the first team to win the Esports World Cup twice in EWC 2025.
Third Place Decider
Before the Grand Finals, PARIVISION and Tundra Esports faced off for the Third Place prize. PARIVISION claimed the win 2–0, but it was a bittersweet result considering they were one of the favorites to win it all not long ago.
With these results, Team Spirit takes home US$1 million for first place. Team Falcons claim US$500,000 for second. PARIVISION pockets US$300,000 for third place, while Tundra Esports rounds out the Top 4 with US$200,000.
Next Up: The FISSURE Universe
A couple of interesting tournaments are still on the calendar before The International 2025. Next is the FISSURE Universe: Episode 6 — a smaller Tier 2 competition featuring a Play-In from July 23rd to July 27th.
Right after that, the Clavision Masters 2025: Snow-Ruyi begins on July 28th and runs through August 3rd. Team Spirit will skip both, but big names like PARIVISION and Tundra Esports are already confirmed for Clavision Masters.
After Clavision Masters, the Main Event for FISSURE Universe Episode 6 takes place August 19–24, though no invites have been announced yet. With that, the Esports World Cup 2025 chapter closes and the road to The International 2025 continues.
If you want to keep up with the EWC 2025’s metagame implications and the latest professional Dota 2 news, check out the news section on the Strafe website!
Featured Image Source: Twitter (@EWC_EN)
