The Story So Far after Week 1 with Dota 2 at EWC 25

Eight teams remain for Dota 2 at EWC 25

From hungry challengers to past champions eyeing redemption, the Dota 2 at EWC playoffs are packed with high-stakes matches and unforgettable storylines. We’re seeing one of the most competitive Dota 2 seasons of all time in 2025. The teams are elite, and there's only a slim difference in their talent levels.

To that point, five of the remaining stacks – Team Spirit, BB Team, Aurora, Tundra Esports, and Team Liquid – have reached the playoffs with just a single loss each. It’s an unprecedented level of play on display, nothing short of world-class, and every one of these teams has the tools to go all the way.

Team Spirit

Team Spirit, two-time TI winners — albeit with some roster tweaks — have been at the top of the Dota 2 world for almost four straight years. While their lineup has evolved, their core remains strong. Illya "Yatoro" Mulyarchuk continues to shine, joined by standout additions like Aleksandr "rue" Filin and former BB Team star Denis "Larl" Sigitov. If this stack can break its LAN curse — they haven’t won an offline tournament in over a year — they’ll be a top contender.

Gaimin Gladiators

Gaimin Gladiators aren’t quite the unstoppable machine they were in 2023, but last year’s Esports World Cup champs are still lethal. Driven by the chance to defend their title, they’ve looked dominant, crushing Team Yandex and Shopify Rebellion en route to the playoffs. They know what it takes to win here, and they’re hungry to do it again.

PVISION

PVISION has looked like the team to beat all year, and nothing has changed heading into EWC. In nine tournament appearances, they’ve finished in the top three in six of them. Their map control can falter at times, but when team fights break out, their raw mechanics take over. If anyone can outplay other teams when it really matters, it’s PVISION.

Aurora Gaming

After picking up castoffs from BB Team and Team Spirit, Serbian organization Aurora Gaming built a roster that now looks like a title threat. Players like Gleb "kiyotaka" Zyryanov and Myroslav "Mira" Kolpakov have made it clear they should never have been free agents. With former TI winners and a fresh outlook, Aurora is a team no one should underestimate.

Tundra Esports

Tundra Esports continue to be a dark horse at this event. They’ve quietly won multiple tournaments, yet are still often rated behind the likes of PVISION and Team Liquid. Still, with their solid fundamentals and the perfect mix of veteran knowledge and younger talent, Tundra are real challengers for the finals.

BB Team

Two weeks ago, BB Team managed to surpass a stacked PGL Wallachia Season 5 bracket to win the event and cement themselves as one of the most competitive teams this year. In any other year, this lineup would easily find itself in the finals at EWC. Instead, they’ll face a challenging bracket against dangerous opponents like Tundra Esports and Team Falcons — but they’ve already shown they’re capable of defeating both.

Team Liquid

It’s been a relatively quiet year so far for TI13 champs Team Liquid. After winning PGL Wallachia Seasons 3 and 4, the stack has seemed to hone its skills in preparation for the major tournaments. At EWC, we could see the revitalized final version of Team Liquid – hungry and looking to replicate last year’s historic feats.

Team Falcons

Team Falcons were the undisputed kings of Dota 2 in 2024, with only a pair of blemishes on their record – but losses at EWC 24 and The International 2024 meant two awards were left absent from their trophy cabinet. This year, they’re looking to avenge those losses. To do so, they must compete against both the TI13 champions in their first match and some of the winningest teams of 2025 waiting for them after. The path is brutal, but if any team can walk it, it’s Team Falcons.

Join us for Week 2 of Dota 2 at EWC 25 as the action lights up the Amazon Esports Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Also be sure to catch the final on Saturday, July 19th.

With hundreds of matches set to take place over the next few days, 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 in-person this week!