Xaxas
21.08.2025
Spirit & NAVI tanked heavy, bracket wide open for new champions
After a chaotic Round of 16 that saw Team Spirit and Natus Vincere crash out early, the Esports World Cup 2025 Counter-Strike 2 playoffs are down to just eight teams. With FaZe, G2, and Astralis also eliminated, the quarterfinals feature a mix of seasoned title contenders and hungry dark horses ready to shock the world.
Here’s your full breakdown of the quarterfinal matchups:
Heroic enter the quarters riding high after their massive upset over Team Spirit, one of the tournament favorites. Their composure and mid-round calls turned that clash into one of their most memorable wins in years.
But The MongolZ are no underdogs. They dismantled GamerLegion in the opener, showing raw firepower and aggression. If they catch Heroic off guard with their trademark explosive style, another upset could be on the cards.
🔥 Match narrative: Can Heroic’s structure withstand The MongolZ’s chaos?
Don’t just watch, predict! Gocore and Whale.io’s special Pick’Em tournament for the Esports World Cup playoffs is live, with a $500 prize pool on the line. Lock in your quarterfinal predictions and test your esports instincts against thousands of other fans.
Check out our TIPS page, where you could find analysis and predictions for each match!
👉 Make your picks before the first quarterfinal kicks off!
Vitality looked sharp against Liquid, with ZywOo and flameZ leading the way in clutch moments. The French powerhouse remain one of the top favorites for the trophy.
TYLOO, meanwhile, shocked Astralis and are carrying the pride of Asian Counter-Strike into the quarterfinals. Their upset potential is real, but facing ZywOo in playoff form is a different beast altogether.
🔥 Match narrative: Will TYLOO’s Cinderella run continue, or will Vitality’s superstars shut it down?
The most anticipated clash of the quarters. Falcons, led by a rejuvenated NiKo, looked dominant in their win over G2. Their firepower and experience scream “title contender.”
But 3DMAX are the story of the tournament so far, eliminating defending champions NAVI in Gravitis’ IGL debut. Their miracle run has captured fans’ imaginations, and another upset here would shake the CS scene even more.
🔥 Match narrative: Can 3DMAX keep the dream alive against NiKo’s Falcons?
Aurora capitalized on FaZe’s weak T-sides to book their spot, proving they’re not just bracket fillers. Their discipline and preparation have turned heads.
MOUZ, quietly consistent all year, now find themselves in one of the most favorable positions of the bracket. Their mix of youthful aggression and veteran stability could see them push all the way.
🔥 Match narrative: A clash of rising stars, which new blood will reach semis?
With NAVI, Spirit, FaZe, G2, and Astralis all eliminated, the EWC 2025 title is wide open. Vitality look like the team to beat, Falcons are firing on all cylinders, while Heroic, 3DMAX, Aurora, and The MongolZ are all chasing legacy runs.
The pressure is immense, and so is the opportunity.
Xaxas
21.08.2025
Article TAGS
News Feed
Vitality shut down Aurora's first title bid together, closing out StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2026 3-1 in Barcelona behind a dominant ZywOo and a statement return to full strength.
Sixteen of the world's best CS2 teams descend on Shanghai for the last major Tier 1 event before the IEM Cologne 2026 Major. Here are our full Group A and Group B Pick'ems predictions for CAC 2026.
Team Falcons stormed through the IEM Cologne 2026 Major playoffs with a dominant run, sweeping FURIA in a flawless Grand Final to claim the title as NiKo finally lifts the Major trophy after a decade of trying.
XSE Pro League Guangzhou descended into chaos before a single round was played, with tech failures, a power outage, a hacked Steam account, and reports of malicious software putting the $1,000,000 tournament under the harshest scrutiny the CS2 scene has seen in years.
Six teams are left in Beijing and the bracket is set. Here are our full playoff picks, from the quarterfinals to the grand final, for your Pick'ems.
Team Vitality swept MOUZ 3-0 in Katowice to win ESL Pro League Season 24. ZywOo carried the final, and MOUZ fell short against their rivals in another grand final.
MOUZ swept The MongolZ 3-0 to win IEM Beijing 2026 without losing a single map all tournament. Here is how xertioN's side took apart the grand final in Beijing.
XSE Pro League 2026 opens July 1 with eight best-of-one clashes, and a single map is all that separates the favorites from an early scare. Here are our Round 1 winner picks: the safe calls, the caveats, and the upsets worth a gamble.
Four quarterfinals land on one day in Bucharest, and the bracket rewards bold reads. Here is how to build your Pick'ems around FUT, Vitality, MOUZ and FURIA.
Falcons and Aurora are our Group A picks, while FURIA and BetBoom get the nod over a returning Legacy in Group B. Here is how to build your Thunderpick World Championship 2026 group stage Pick'ems before the first map goes live.