Esports World Cup 2025 Day 3-4 Recap: Drama, Upsets, and Phase 2 Elimination Battles

Gamin Gladiators' Quinn delivered the quote of the tournament so far when asked about disruptions from neighboring Valorant players:

Yeah, FPS players need to be like sit down and be explained - hey this is a collective space, you're not the only people in the universe. They sound American so that's, you know, par for the course for our everloving countrymen but yeah, I don't know, it's not okay.

Source: Esports World Cup

The blunt assessment came after Gamin Gladiators split their series 1-1 with Team Falcons in what proved to be another day of competitive Dota 2 action at the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh. Quinn's frustration with the shared venue conditions highlighted the unique challenges of this multi-game tournament format, but his team's performance showed they weren't letting distractions derail their campaign.

Day 3: Close Calls and Tiebreaker Drama

The action began with Talon Esports and Xtreme Gaming trading games in a 1-1 series that featured some harsh words about the current meta. After Xtreme Gaming's loss in game two with a Phantom Lancer pick, Ws didn't hold back in his assessment of the hero during the post-game interview.

When asked about his team's approach to the Phantom Lancer pick, Ws was direct: "We're not afraid of the Phantom Lancer, because I feel he's a pretty bad hero, even late game or early game." His criticism went deeper when pressed about the hero's viability, responding simply: "No" when asked if there was any reason to pick Phantom Lancer at all.

Source: Liquipedia

WS suggested potential buffs, saying "Valve needs to buff him more. Maybe add some spell...maybe stun or something, maybe this hero can play." The comments reflect growing frustration with certain heroes in the current patch, particularly those that require significant farm investment without delivering consistent impact.

The Gamin Gladiators versus Team Falcons series provided both tactical intrigue and venue-related commentary. In Game 1, midlaner Malr1ne engaged in an almost minute-long battle with Quinn over a single vision ward kill. The sequence demonstrated the psychological warfare that defines high-level Dota 2, where even the smallest advantages can shift momentum.

Both players committed to missing two full creep waves for this extended skirmish, understanding that the mental edge gained might prove more valuable than the immediate economic loss. Despite securing various small advantages throughout the game, Gamin Gladiators ultimately fell in the opener, proving that accumulating minor benefits doesn't guarantee victory at this level. Game 2 saw Gamin Gladiators respond with an unconventional final pick Medusa. The uncommon hero choice paid dividends as they secured the win to level the series 1-1, showcasing the importance of adaptability and surprising opponents with unexpected strategies.

The day concluded with crucial tiebreaker matches that would determine Phase 2 seeding. Group C featured Aurora Gaming and Tundra Esports battling for first place, with Aurora Gaming claiming the top spot in a 2-1 victory. The first-place finish guarantees Aurora Gaming a top-8 tournament placement, a significant achievement in this competitive field.

Day 4: Dominant Performances and Tournament Format Clarity

Team Spirit delivered the most convincing performance of the day, sweeping Natus Vincere 2-0 in a confident display that reinforced their status as tournament favorites. The victory secured Team Spirit's position at the top of their group and earned them a bye through the early Phase 2 matches.

BetBoom Team matched that dominance with their own 2-0 victory over Execration, though post-game comments suggested the series was closer than the scoreline indicated. BetBoom's Save- praised their opponents, stating that his team "could've lost both games," demonstrating the respect that professional players have for each other's capabilities.

Save- also addressed the double Radiance build on both Omniknight and Lifestealer, explaining that "there really aren't any other builds on the heroes right now." This insight into current itemization trends reveals how the meta has narrowed certain heroes' viable build paths, forcing teams into predictable patterns that opponents can exploit.

Interestingly, both Team Spirit's Miposhka and BetBoom Team's Save- expressed mixed feelings about their success. While pleased with their group-topping performances, they acknowledged the downside of having to wait several days before their next matches due to the tournament's format structure.

Understanding the Tournament Format

The Esports World Cup 2025 follows a three-phase structure that creates unique strategic considerations:

Phase 1 - Group Stage (July 8-11, 2025) features four groups of four teams in round-robin play, with all series consisting of two games. The top team from each group advances directly to Phase 3 guaranteeing them $125,000, while second-place teams enter the second round of Phase 2. Remaining teams must fight through the first round of Phase 2 elimination matches.

Phase 2 - Elimination Phase (July 12-13, 2025) operates as a gauntlet bracket where 4th-place teams face 3rd-place teams, with winners advancing to face 2nd-place teams. Four teams will survive this phase to join the group winners in Phase 3.

Phase 3 - Playoffs (July 16-19, 2025) features single-elimination brackets with a third-place match, while the Grand Final extends to a best-of-five format.

This structure creates the "suffering from success" scenario that top-performing teams face, where early dominance leads to extended waiting periods that can disrupt momentum and preparation routines.

Group Stage Tiebreakers Set the Stage

Group D required additional tiebreaker matches after initial results left all teams tied 1-1. Heroic and Parivision faced off in the decisive series, with Parivision claiming victory 2-1 to secure their Phase 2 positioning.

Source: Liquipedia

The tiebreaker rounds revealed the tournament's competitive depth, with every team dropping at least one game in their crucial series. This pattern demonstrates that no team can be written off completely, and the margin for error remains minimal as the tournament progresses into its elimination phases.

Phase 2 Elimination Battles Begin

With Phase 1 of the tournament concluded, attention turns to the high-stakes elimination matches that will determine the final eight teams. The gauntlet format creates compelling narratives as teams that struggled in group play get opportunities to upset higher-seeded opponents. The format's compressed timeline means teams have limited time to address weaknesses or develop new strategies. Mental resilience becomes crucial as elimination pressure intensifies, particularly for teams that must win multiple series to survive.

Ready to test your tournament knowledge? The Phase 2 elimination matches offer perfect opportunities to showcase your analytical skills in Pick'ems. With upset potential lurking in every series and momentum shifts happening rapidly, these crucial matches will separate the sharp predictors from the rest of the field.

Source: Esports World Cup

TL;DR

• Quinn's blunt criticism of FPS players' venue behavior becomes tournament talking point
• Ws delivers harsh assessment of Phantom Lancer's current viability, suggesting hero needs buffs
• Team Spirit and BetBoom Team dominate with 2-0 victories, earning skipped matches in Phase 2
• Group stage tiebreakers show tournament's competitive depth as every team drops games
• Phase 2 elimination format creates high-stakes scenarios for Pick'ems predictions