The Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh kicked off with streaming drama, complete roster reunions, and meta-defining performances that set the stage for what promises to be an electrifying tournament. While the action on the main stage delivered spectacular Dota 2, the real entertainment began when professional players started weighing in on community predictions.

Gorgc's Tier List Sparks Professional Debate

Popular streamer Gorgc turned his co-broadcast of the Esports World Cup into must-watch content when he unveiled his tournament tier list during the opening day coverage. The ranking immediately caught the attention of his chat, but the real fireworks started when Gamin Gladiators' Quinn voiced his disagreement.

Source: X.com

Quinn's reaction was both professional and playful, questioning why his Gamin Gladiators squad found themselves ranked below Aurora Gaming. The exchange highlighted the fine line between analytical prediction and entertainment value that defines tournament coverage. Gorgc defended his controversial placement by explaining his desire to create a more "spicy" tier list, one that would generate discussion rather than follow conventional wisdom.

Source: Twitch

The streamer's response to Quinn carried both challenge and encouragement, calling on the professional player to prove his team's worth in the later stages of the tournament. This serves as a reminder that predictions in esports are as much about entertainment and community engagement as they are about analytical accuracy. Both Gorgc and Quinn understood the game being played, with the streamer creating content that sparks debate while the professional player defending his team's honor in good spirits.

Team Liquid's Complete Roster Dominates Day 1

Team Liquid's 2-0 performance on Day 1 carried extra significance as the roster competed with their full strength for the first time in recent memory. Insania's return to the team creates a complete unit.

Source: Liquipedia

The day's results painted a clear picture of early tournament favorites, with Aurora Gaming, Tundra Esports, PARIVISION, and Team Liquid all achieving perfect 2-0 records. Aurora Gaming's dominant showing adds another layer to the Gorgc-Quinn exchange, as the team backed up their tier list placement with convincing victories. Their tactical execution and individual performances demonstrated the level of preparation that championship contenders bring to premier tournaments.

Tundra Esports and PARIVISION similarly showcased the depth of competition in this tournament, with both teams executing their strategies flawlessly across two matches. The 2-0 starts position these teams as serious contenders for advancement from the group stage.

Meta Moments Define Tournament Identity

Individual performances on Day 1 revealed both the tournament's meta direction and the players who will define its narrative. Xtreme Gaming's Ame delivered the day's most impressive highlight, securing victory in game 2 against Team Spirit with a slightly off-meta Juggernaut pick that reminded everyone why he's considered one of the position's finest players.

The Juggernaut selection demonstrated Ame's confidence in his mechanical skill and game understanding, choosing a hero that demands precise execution over meta safety. His performance validated the pick and showcased the individual brilliance that can overcome strategic disadvantages in professional Dota 2.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, BetBoom's Pure experienced the tournament's most frustrating moment when his last-pick Phantom Lance in game 1 against Gamin Gladiators failed to deliver the expected impact. The hero's continued struggles in the current meta were highlighted by Pure's inability to carry his team to victory despite favorable positioning.

The Phantom Lance situation became even more intriguing when Aurora Gaming successfully utilized the hero in their matches, achieving victory and bringing the hero's tournament win rate to exactly 50%. This split result emphasizes how individual execution and team coordination can make or break hero selections that exist on the meta's periphery.

Tournament Predictions Heat Up

The Esports World Cup 2025's opening day has established clear storylines and competitive hierarchies that will shape the tournament's progression. With group stage matches continuing and teams fighting for advancement, the prediction opportunities are more compelling than ever.

GOCORE's Pick'ems system offers fans the chance to test their analytical skills against the tournament's developing narrative. The simple scoring system awards +1 for correct predictions and -1 for wrong ones, creating a risk-reward dynamic that mirrors the strategic decisions teams face in their matches.

As a brand new tournament finding its identity, the Esports World Cup 2025 presents fresh prediction opportunities without the weight of extensive historical data. This levels the playing field for predictors, making analytical insight and current form assessment more valuable than pattern recognition from previous iterations.

The daily nature of Pick'ems competitions means that yesterday's results inform today's decisions, creating a dynamic prediction environment that rewards both consistency and adaptability. Whether you're backing the 2-0 teams to continue their dominance or looking for upset opportunities from the squads seeking redemption, the tournament's early stages offer the perfect foundation for building leaderboard momentum.

Ready to test your tournament predictions? Join today's Pick'ems competition and see if your analysis matches the Riyadh results.

TL;DR

• Gorgc's tier list sparked friendly debate when Quinn questioned his team's ranking below Aurora
• Team Liquid, Aurora Gaming, Tundra Esports, and PARIVISION all achieved 2-0 records on Day 1
• Ame's off-meta Juggernaut delivered the day's highlight while Pure's Phantom Lance struggled
• Tournament's fresh format creates ideal prediction opportunities for Pick'ems participants