Aug 15, 2025.
Sixteen teams entered, but only one was crowned winner. The TFT at EWC 25 finals featured an APAC vs. China showdown: underdogs Virtus.pro faced China’s powerhouse, Weibo Gaming. In the end, Weibo Gaming triumphed over Virtus.pro, taking home the $150,000 prize. Congratulations to Weibo Gaming for securing a 2025 Esports World Cup trophy.
Weibo Gaming (WBG) had a near-perfect run throughout the tournament. Undefeated in the group stage and only dropping a single game to AEGIS in the semifinals, they entered the finals against Virtus.pro (VP) brimming with confidence, aiming to bring the gold back to China for a second consecutive year.
VP showed that even with a roster virtually unknown to the world, they could send some of the tournament’s favorites home. After dropping just a single match to AEGIS in the group stage, they secured 2-0 victories over Wolves Esports and T1 in the quarterfinals and semifinals. Much of the tournament hype centered on VP, and they proved themselves the true giant slayers of the event.
Weibo Gaming proved they are untouchable giants, though, by shutting down Virtus.pro’s underdog story. WBG dominated the first game, with all four of their players finishing in the top four. VP bounced back in the second game, tying the series as Lê "Milo" Đức Hải, Phạm "K1an" Trường An, and Anh "Maris" Dương Nguyễn claimed the top three spots.
The metagame at EWC 25 revolved around the 2-cost unit Gangplank. In the third game, WBG’s Yin "Saopimi" Shengjie hit the jackpot with his first augment, Caretaker’s Ally, granting him a free Gangplank each time he leveled up. With only Saopimi and VP’s Milo remaining in the lobby at Stage 6-5, Saopimi secured the win and put WBG at match point.
The momentum proved insurmountable for VP, as WBG closed out the series in the fourth game to claim the TFT at EWC 25 title.
SONY MVP
With a 71% win rate, a 2.75 average placement, and 25 total points, WBG’s Saopimi delivered a jaw-dropping performance throughout the tournament, earning him the title of SONY MVP. Not only did he bring the EWC gold back to China for a second consecutive year, but he also took home $10,000 as the SONY MVP.
Weibo Gaming climbed to 8th place in the Club Championship standings with 1,950 points with their Teamfight Tactics at the 2025 Esports World Cup victory. The Chinese club becomes the 17th unique team to claim a title this year. Weibo Gaming has a strong chance to climb even higher in the rankings as they compete in Street Fighter 6 next week.
Despite finishing as runners-up, Virtus.pro retained 4th place with 3,150 points. The Eastern European club has yet to secure a victory, leaving them ineligible for the overall Club Championship title. This marks Virtus.pro’s third second-place finish in Riyadh this year, a notable achievement in its own right. They'll look to climb the rankings as they compete in their final four competitions.
With hundreds of matches taking place over the next week, new legends will rise as winners 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!