Six Must-Watch Players in Week 6 of EWC 25

We’re deep into the action at the 2025 Esports World Cup, where legends are already being made as players claim victory, raising trophies and crushing the hopes and dreams of their opponents.

Along the path to victory, many stories are told, but only a few become tales of champions. Below, we’ve compiled the four most compelling stories from Week 6. Will these players rise above the competition or fall in the shadow of greatness?

Michael “k3soju” Zhang, Team Vitality - Teamfight Tactics at EWC 25

The biggest TFT streamer in the world is back on the Esports World Cup stage. After being knocked out in the 2024 semifinals by eventual champions Wolves Esports, k3soju returns this year after clutching first place in the AMER Closed Qualifier.

Following a ban from Riot Games that kept him out of Cup 3 and regionals due to account sharing, he took roughly three months off streaming to prepare for EWC 2025 in Europe. Week 6 could be his shot at revenge against Wolves Esports and at claiming the $150,000 grand prize.

Arslan “Arslan Ash” Siddique, Twisted Minds - TEKKEN 8 at EWC 25

Fresh off his championship victory at EVO 2025, he enters EWC 2025 as a six-time EVO champion, a feat that only a select few have achieved in any esports title.

After first gaining worldwide recognition for his legendary run at EVO Japan 2019, he has continued to make history time and time again. With his latest victory, he is now also a back-to-back EVO champion. The $1,000,000 prize pool is just icing on the cake for Arslan, as he looks to prove himself once again against the world’s best at EWC 2025, especially against Knee given their ongoing rivalry over character balance.

Jae-Min “Knee” Bae, DRX - TEKKEN 8 at EWC 25

Knee is widely considered the GOAT of the franchise. He began playing TEKKEN when the series first launched in 1999, starting in small arcades tucked away in the streets of South Korea before rising to become a four-time EVO champion. He is celebrated not only for his achievements but also for the remarkable longevity of his career. His legacy and love for TEKKEN surpasses those of anyone else in the world, and he returns to the EWC stage after qualifying as the EVO Japan 2025 champion.

Evan “M0nkey M00n” Rogez, Team Vitality - Rocket League ft. at EWC 25

As one of the defending EWC 2024 champions, M0nkey M00n returns to the EWC 2025 stage with his new team, Team Vitality. Currently ranked third in the EWC Club Championship standings, Team Vitality will be counting on M0nkey M00n to deliver a first-place finish and earn 1,000 points to climb the leaderboard. With $400,000 at stake for first place, M0nkey M00n and his team are aiming to take it all.

Tristan “Shrimzy” Nowicki, Team Falcons - PUBG BATTLEGROUNDS at EWC 25

Prior to the start of 2025, Team Falcons underwent a complete roster overhaul, dropping their previous lineup and signing the EWC 2024 champions, Soniqs. The 27-year-old American player now aims to become a back-to-back Esports World Cup champion with the roster that helped him claim gold last year. Under the Team Falcons banner, a championship victory is crucial for Shrimzy because it not only secures $400,000 in prize money but also earns Team Falcons 1,000 CC points, bringing them one step closer to the $7,000,000 Club Championship first-place prize.

Michael “Riddles” Kim - Street Fighter 6 at EWC 25 Last Chance Qualifier

Making his first appearance at the Esports World Cup, Riddles has already had an interesting journey in esports. Best known for his career as a professional Super Smash Bros. Ultimate player, his love for the fighting game community, especially the Street Fighter franchise, has been there since childhood. He'll put that love on display during the Street Fighter 6 at EWC 25 Last Chance Qualifier this week.

Earlier this year, he made the full-time transition to Street Fighter 6, with his biggest result of 2025 being a first-place finish at GOML 2025, a Tier 3 tournament in his hometown of Toronto, Canada. Riddles is constantly honing his craft, whether he is practicing combos, climbing the ranked ladder, competing in custom lobbies and online tournaments, or reviewing match footage while traveling to events. With his main character for both Smash and SF6, Terry Bogard, he continues to chase excellence in pursuit of perfection.

With hundreds of matches taking place over the next week, new legends will rise as champions are crowned and rivals are toppled. Watch the Esports World Cup 2025 live or check out the ticket options to watch the games in person!