Xtreme Gaming (XG) pulled off a clean 2-0 win over Southeast Asian underdogs Execration at the Dota 2 Esports World Cup (EWC), keeping China’s hopes alive in the tournament. With a lot of pressure going into the match, XG relied on sharp teamwork and solid game skills to take the lead early.

Game one was all XG. They slowly built their lead and ended it in 36 minutes with a strong 28-9 kill score. Execration had a hard time keeping up but came into game two with a bold draft. They picked the rarely used Witch Doctor for support player Bryle 'cml' Alvizo, a hero that hadn’t won a single game at the event.

The risky pick worked at first, with the Filipino team holding strong in big fights and even gaining more gold late in the game. However, a failed push on the high ground turned things around. XG took advantage, won a key fight, and grabbed the Aegis.

With Execration out, Talon Esports is now the last team from Southeast Asia left in the Dota 2 EWC. XG moves on to the next knockout round, where they’ll face a harder match against PARIVISION.

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Day two of the 2025 Dota 2 Esports World Cup (EWC) came with some surprises. While some heavyweights struggled, rising teams seized the moment. Team Liquid, the reigning TI champions, stayed strong with a clean 2-0 win over PARIVISION. However, other top teams didn’t have the same luck.

Virtus.pro fell to the bottom of Group C after losing all four of their games. Defeats to Tundra Esports and Team Yandex pushed VP into the elimination phase. They were the first team to get locked in. At the same time, underdogs like NAVI and HEROIC picked up big wins and put more pressure on the top teams.

In the round-robin group stage, only one team from each group goes straight to the playoffs. The others must fight in the elimination phase. This increases the pressure with every match. Shopify Rebellion is in trouble after losing two games in a row and now risks getting knocked out.

As the $3 million Dota 2 event heads into Day 3, the gap between top teams and underdogs is getting smaller. This sets up a playoff race that could go in any direction.

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The second Esports World Cup (EWC) has started in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It features a record-breaking $70 million prize pool across 25 titles. Although players don’t play for their countries, global teams like Team Liquid are getting a lot of attention. 

Team Liquid is based in the Netherlands and trains full-time players. They work with game, fitness, and mindset coaches. Their team base has streaming rooms, practice areas, and even a chef on site to help players stay sharp and focused.

EA FC player Levi de Weerd says the team’s strong support helps build teamwork and leads to good results. Apex Legends player YanYa also says the EWC is the best time he’s had in esports. Team Liquid is going for first place after finishing second last year. There’s $7 million waiting for the top team. 

However, the event’s Saudi support has caused some backlash because of the country’s record on human rights. Co-CEO Victor Goossens said it’s a hard situation. Still, he believes playing in the EWC is important for the team’s future. He said they need to stay active now if they want to still be around in five or ten years.

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South Korea’s Lee 'Faker' Sang-hyeok is back, aiming for another title as the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC) kicks off in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. With a massive $70 million prize pool, the largest in esports history, the event brings together 200 teams and over 2,000 players. They’ll compete in 25 games, including League of Legends, Valorant, and Street Fighter 6.

At 29, Faker is widely considered one of the best League of Legends players of all time. He plays mid lane for T1 and has won five World Championships, ten League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) titles, and two Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) titles. On June 6, 2024, he became the first inductee into Riot Games�Hall of Legends during a special ceremony in Seoul, further cementing his status as ‘The Unkillable Demon King�

This year, Faker returns to the EWC, where 12 League of Legends teams will compete from July 16 to 20 for a $2 million prize. The event is funded by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) through Savvy Games Group.

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