Dota 2 is headlining the 2025 Esports World Cup, running from July 7–19, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, part of the broader EWC extravaganza. A whopping $3 million prize pool is on the line, with $1M for the champion.
Format at a Glance
- Group Stage (July 8–11): 16 teams split into four groups of four, playing round-robin. All matches are best-of-2 (or round-robin).
- Group winners head straight to Playoffs.
- 2nd-placed teams move to Round 2 of the Elimination Phase.
- 3rd and 4th enter Round 1 of Gauntlet-style elimination.
- Elimination Phase (July 12–13): Best-of-three “gauntlet” bracket. Four teams fight through for the final spots in the Playoffs.
- Playoffs (July 16–19): A single-elimination bracket featuring eight teams. Matches are best-of-three until a best-of-five Grand Final, plus a 3rd-place decider.
The Teams
Here are the four groups and their lineups:
- Group A: NAVI, Talon Esports, Team Spirit, Xtreme Gaming
- Group B: BetBoom Team, Execration, Gaimin Gladiators (Defending Riyadh Masters champs), Team Falcons
- Group C: Aurora Gaming, Team Yandex, Tundra Esports (in red-hot form this season), Virtus.pro
- Group D: HEROIC, PARIVISION, Shopify Rebellion, Team Liquid
Standouts you need to watch:
- Gaimin Gladiators, with momentum from PGL Wallachia Season 5 victory.
- Tundra Esports, impressive after wins at BLAST Slam II, III, and FISSURE Playground 1.
- Team Falcons, fast-rising and backed by consistent runner-up finishes this year.
Prize Breakdown
- 💰 $3M total
- 1st: $1,000,000
- 2nd: $500,000
- 3rd: $300,000
- 4th: $200,000
- 5–8th: $125,000
- 9–12th: $75,000
- 13–16th: $50,000
How to Watch
Catch the action live on EWC’s official channels: Twitch, YouTube, TikTok, Weibo, and Bilibili.
What this really means is that this Dota 2 segment of the EWC is a high-stakes proving ground. The format rewards both consistency and clutch performances: group toppers get rest and respect, but the gauntlet round keeps the heat on. Storylines abound—watching if Gaimin defends their crown, if Tundra builds on its form, or if dark horses like Falcons or Aurora cause upsets. With half the prize pool on the line in finals, the climax will be epic.
The tournament structure strengthens the competitive integrity while making every match matter. And if you want early drama, key matchups like BetBoom vs Gaimin (Group B) and Tundra vs Aurora (Group C) are must-watch