Twisted Minds take home the OWCS crown in 2025

Twisted Minds entered the World Finals among twelve elite squads invited to compete from Nov. 26 through Nov. 30. They began with a tight 3-2 win over Korean powerhouse T1 before delivering a dominant 3-0 performance against Team Falcons in the upper semifinal. Their path hit a stumbling block when they lost 1-3 to Al Qadsiah in the upper bracket final.

Instead of fading, Twisted Minds regrouped, defeated Crazy Raccoon 3-1 in the lower final, and then returned to face Al Qadsiah with a clearer strategy and renewed focus. Their decisive win in the grand final left no doubt about their strength.

From Riyadh To Stockholm

The difference between this performance and their showing earlier in the year at the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh could not be larger. Twisted Minds did not contend for the top prize in Riyadh as the squad finished in third place after beating T1 3-1. Fellow Saudi organization, Team Falcons, won the event with a 4-0 sweep of Al Qadsiah in the final there. The result in Riyadh Boulevard City left little doubt that Ibrahem “Quartz” Alali and squad could compete at the highest level. It also highlighted the clear limitations the team needed to deal with before taking on more pressure-filled moments.

In Stockholm, their growth was evident. The team’s coordination looked sharper and their ability to adapt during the series more refined. Against Al Qadsiah in the final, they controlled key maps including Nepal and King’s Row before closing out the title on Route 66 and the Push map Runasapi.

Twisted Minds On The Rise

Twisted Minds’ rise over the last year underscores both strategic evolution and experience gained from earlier tests including EWC 2025. Their third place finish in Riyadh proved they could compete with the best. Over the course of the season they integrated lessons from that event, cleaned up execution errors, and entered Stockholm with a more consistent style of play that relied on both mechanical skill and tactical unity. They found ways to punish opponents’ mistakes and impose their own tempo in crucial moments.

Fans and analysts noted that the team’s ability to recover after the upper bracket loss showed a new level of mental resilience. Rather than allowing frustration to affect their play, they used the setback as a chance to refine their approach and focus on executing fundamentals.

By the time the final match concluded, it was clear that Twisted Minds had moved from promising contenders to confirmed world champions. Their title at the OWCS World Finals reflects both growth through international competition and a peak performance earned on one of the biggest stages in Overwatch esports.

Road to EWC 2026

Competitive Overwatch heads into 2026 with the Esports World Cup once again set to define the year. The summer event in Riyadh will bring together the strongest regional teams from OWCS and create the season’s most important international benchmark. With rising parity across regions and new contenders emerging late in 2025, the 2026 Esports World Cup is poised to shape narratives, power rankings, and roster moves for the rest of the competitive calendar.