Esports World Cup 2025 – Desert Storm

One of the central events of the season. For some, a coveted cup. For others, preparation for The International. For others still, the final stage. July 8-19. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The arena's splendor, millions of dollars in prize money, global positioning. The Esports World Cup is the new name for the main summer event in Dota 2. The former Riyadh Masters has become the central arena of the summer season – the point where the main intrigues and ambitions of the teams converge. Yes, it's not TI. But in 2025, the $3,000,000 prize pool is the largest of the season, and the status and lineup of participants make it one of the key championships of the year. This tournament will show who is truly ready for the main event of the year and who is not. At arenas of this scale, surprises always happen, stars are revealed, and new favorites are born. Therefore, for viewers, the Esports World Cup is not just an event but a real Dota celebration that sets the tone for the entire esports summer.

Format: Strict and Relentless

This format does not forgive complacency. You can't wake up by the second day here. Only maximum concentration – otherwise, it's home time.

• Group Stage (July 8-11): 4 groups of 4 teams, BO2. The first place in each group advances to the playoffs, the last places are eliminated from the tournament, and the rest move to the elimination stage.
• Play-In (July 12-13): Gauntlet format. 4th places play against 3rd places, the winner faces the 2nd. Four teams advance to the main bracket.
• Playoffs (July 16-19): Single Elimination. All matches up to the grand final are BO3.

Main Contenders for the Cup

Team Spirit: Sleeping Dragons

The season hasn't been generous with titles for Spirit so far. But we know them: this is a team that traditionally shines on big stages. The team is brilliant in macro play, and this has often saved them even after a weak start. Their positioning in team fights and decision-making on the map are among the best on the scene. They don't need to win everything online – they come for trophies when the arena roars around them. This tournament is their territory. And even though Spirit is not the favorites by ranking, this is precisely the case when the dragon awakens when least expected.

PARIVISION: Unstoppable Force

Who would have thought that this lineup would become one of the most stable in 2025. However, the team boasts the highest win rate on the tier-1 scene this season. Satanic, No[o]ne-, Dukalis, 9Class, DM – not just a collection of names, but a well-oiled machine. Their victory at ESL One, confident performances at all tier-1 tournaments, and aggressive style make opponents nervous. Satanic might be the best carry of this season. If he is at his peak form and the team supports him, PARIVISION could very well take their first major international title.

Tundra Esports: At a Crossroads

Tundra has lost its way. With dyrachyo's departure, the drive disappeared, and 33 has been playing less creatively – more through stability. This isn't bad, but it's not the style that brought titles. Yet, the experience and depth of strategy...make them dangerous. This tournament is their test. Either they return to the top or settle permanently in the middle of the scene. We are confident that the ambitions of bzm and 33 are high – and in Riyadh, they will play at their maximum.

Direct Playoff Contenders

Team Liquid: Reliability and Stability

Liquid is one of the most organized and stable teams of the year. But there is currently a fog surrounding them. Captain Aydin "iNSaNiA" Sarkohi missed FISSURE Universe: Episode 5. His temporary replacement, Tobi, managed well, and the team reached the grand final, where they defeated PARIVISION 3-0. However, without their main five, everything was hanging by a thin thread. In any case, SabeRLight-, Nisha, Boxi, miCKe – these are masters capable of winning a tournament with almost any lineup.

BetBoom Team: Skill and Potential

BetBoom is underestimated. But the team almost always makes it to the playoffs. Gpk, Save- are stable, and Pure can win any lane if he doesn't overplay himself. Their Achilles' heel is psychology. They often break down after one bad fight, leave the map, surrender, type GG. But if they start with victories, they could become the biggest surprise of the tournament. Let's remember that gpk pulled through the final of PGL Wallachia Season 5. He knows how to carry. The rest of the team just needs to keep up.

Team Falcons: The Team with the Most Unpredictable Form

Falcons remain one of the strongest lineups on the pro scene. But the season hasn't gone well for them. Lack of trophies, instability, tempo issues – all of this has raised doubts. Everything pointed to the need for changes in the team. Yet, Malr1ne's words before the tournament sound like a challenge: "Even considering that this year hasn't gone well for us, we still have The International and Riyadh ahead. I will try to give 300% in Riyadh. I will prepare, and my team will too." If Falcons find their meta after a month's rest, they can once again become a nightmare for any opponent.

Gaimin Gladiators: Defenders of the Title, but Not the Status

GG were the kings of last year. Now they are an average team with a set of problems. Quinn is unstable, drafts are cumbersome, motivation is in the shadows. But GG has one thing many don't – the psychology of a champion. They know how to win. The question is – do they want to? At the moment, they are confident contenders for the top 8, but not for the title unless something changes drastically.

Dark Horses

Aurora Gaming, HEROIC, Xtreme Gaming, Natus Vincere – all of them can surprise. Especially the new NAVI roster, formed on the basis of NAVI Junior. Youth, audacity, fearlessness – sometimes that's exactly what allows a team to surprise the scene. Aurora with Nightfall are gradually gaining form. The potential is there. But without stability and discipline, they will have a hard time, as on the tier-1 scene, the price of one mistake, one slip is too high. Xtreme Gaming – Ame and the guys haven't stood out with their play yet, except for games on Morphling that brought them victories, otherwise, the Chinese team looks uncertain.

Teams in Decline

Virtus.pro, Talon Esports, Shopify Rebellion – currently without structure, withoutof progress, without prospects. The individual level of these teams does not reach tier-1, and there is no visible team synergy. Unless a miracle happens, they will end the season here.

Virtus.pro. Despite roster changes, the team with V-Tune failed to qualify for The International. This tournament is a chance to end the season on a positive note.

Talon Esports. A team with a rich history and renowned mid-laner Mikoto, but recently, even with the arrival of 23savage, their results have been disappointing.

Shopify Rebellion. The team reached the playoffs at FISSURE Universe: Episode 5, but a loss to Aurora exposed issues with maintaining an advantage and closing out maps – a serious weakness at this level of competition.

First to be eliminated

Execration and Team Yandex objectively appear weaker than all other participants.

Execration. A Filipino team that failed to show consistent results this season.

Team Yandex. A new team led by Solo, built on the base of Cyber Goose. So far, the team has not demonstrated a worthy performance on the tier-1 stage. Too many weaknesses, unstable picks, lack of experience at this level. They will have to fight for every kill, every map. And even that might not save them.

Teams for whom the tournament is the season finale

For five teams, the Esports World Cup 2025 will be the last tournament of the season, as they did not qualify for The International:

• Virtus.pro
• Team Yandex
• Talon Esports
• Shopify Rebellion
• Execration

For them, this is the last opportunity to showcase themselves and end the season on a high note. And while Team Yandex has recently formed and will likely keep their roster, the other four are likely to face reshuffles and replacements.

Conclusion

The Esports World Cup 2025 is not just the last major tournament before The International. It is a mirror of the entire season. Here, those who have stayed at the top all year will meet those who are desperately clinging to a chance to remain in the elite. Some will come to the tournament confident in their game, some with prepared strategies, and some with a last hope.

Teams like Spirit, Liquid, Falcons, BetBoom, Tundra, and PARIVISION will be deciding among themselves who will take control of the scene before the main event of the year. Winning here is not just about adding $500,000 to personal prize money but establishing dominance and declaring: "we are the main contenders for the Aegis." There are teams with questions about their form: NAVI, HEROIC, Aurora, Xtreme. Some of them might perform spectacularly, as often happens in tournaments of this level, while others may not handle the pressure and will head home. Meanwhile, for Virtus.pro, Talon, Shopify, Yandex, and Execration, this is the last match of the season. The last stage in the current season. Success could become a foundation for players in the next season. And failure will likely lead to reshuffles and departures.

The Esports World Cup is not just a tournament. It is a test of strategies, psychology, and character. Here, victory doesn't belong solely to the strong. Here, victory belongs to those who are ready to fight until the end. And perhaps, it is in Riyadh where we will first witness the team that, in just a few months, will lift the Aegis overhead. The Esports World Cup 2025 is history in the making. And it begins right now.

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