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The International 2025 Qualifiers: China and North America
We’re back for the second round of The International 2025 Qualifiers, this time featuring results from China and North America. Both regions wrapped up their final day of regional qualifiers and determined which teams will represent them at The International 2025.
The day kicked off with the Chinese regional finals, where Xtreme Gaming delivered the first clean sweep of the qualifiers. Not long after, North America treated us to a hard-fought best-of-five series, ending with a dramatic final-map victory.
The International Qualifiers: China
The Chinese Grand Finals featured two fan-favorite teams that navigated almost the entire upper bracket. Xtreme Gaming were the first to reach the Upper Bracket Finals after sweeping both Vici Gaming and Azure Ray 2-0 with dominant performances.
In the Upper Bracket Finals, Xtreme Gaming faced a stronger opponent in the Yakult Brothers, who took the first map and looked promising. However, after a pair of hard-fought games, Xtreme Gaming managed to turn the series around and secure a 2-1 victory to advance to the Grand Finals.
Before facing Xtreme, the Yakult Brothers had convincingly defeated lesser-known teams Team Curtain and Tearlaments, both with 2-0 scores.
Following their loss in the Upper Bracket Finals, they met Tearlaments once again in the Lower Bracket Finals — this time starting at a 0-1 disadvantage. In a near mirror of their previous match, the Yakult Brothers managed to bounce back and win 2-1, earning their spot in the Grand Finals
In the end, Xtreme Gaming unleashed their full potential. They steamrolled the Yakult Brothers with a decisive 3-0 sweep. While the second game stretched a little over 51 minutes, the third was quick and clean, sealing their spot at The International 2025.
With this result, Wang "Ame" Chunyu secures yet another shot at the Aegis. Could this finally be the year China reclaims the Aegis of the Champions? We’ll find out soon.
The International Qualifiers: North America
While China’s qualifiers were dominated by control and execution, North America brought the drama, with upsets and surprises throughout the bracket. Wildcard Gaming was the first to reach the Upper Bracket Finals after Team Slayers forfeited and BSJ and Friends fell 0-2 in the semifinals.
In a not very surprising twist, Wildcard then met Shopify Rebellion, and what followed was a grueling first game lasting 74 minutes. Despite the drain, Wildcard held strong and secured a clean 2-0 win to move on to the Grand Finals.
Shopify Rebellion, for their part, had dispatched CDUB Esports and 4Anchors DS with 2-0 scores earlier in the bracket. After their loss to Wildcard, they found redemption in the Lower Bracket Final, sweeping BSJ and Friends 2-0 to earn another chance at the title.
The Grand Finals between Wildcard and Shopify Rebellion was a marathon. With the series tied 2-2 heading into the final map — and a 76-minute slugfest on game four — Wildcard found the strength to close the series and claim the North American ticket to The International 2025.
This wraps up the second round of The International 2025 Qualifiers and clears the way for the final Esports World Cup regional qualifiers in Eastern Europe and South America. Meanwhile, the last TI regions, including Western Europe, are expected to bring even more excitement — with WEU’s stacked Tier 2 scene ready to make headlines.
For full coverage of The International 2025 and the Esports World Cup Qualifiers, be sure to check our news section on the Strafe website in the coming days!
Featured Image Source: Twitter (@wykrhm)
