Week 3 Group Stage and Playoffs Recap: Honorable Mentions and Standouts

The 2025 Esports World Cup once again delivered non-stop action across multiple titles. Highlights include a clutch 1v2 in PUBG Mobile, a dominant sweep in StarCraft II, and impressive item usage in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. Read on to find out more about the intense action that took place across Week 3.

PUBG Mobile World Cup at EWC 25 Group Stage

Team AxTMG wins intense duel for survival

A standoff between Team AxTMG and Weibo Gaming brought the third day of the PUBG MOBILE World Cup at EWC 25 group stage to a heart-pounding close. Aditya “Devotee” attempted to catch Lin “33z” Zhichao off-angle but was taken down, setting up a tense 1v2 between 33z and Aryan “Aryan” Chouhan alongside Dhairya “Syrax” Solanki. In the final moments, Aryan landed the shots he needed beneath the car that 33z was using for cover.

The victory secured Team AxTMG a spot in the tournament’s survival stage, while Weibo Gaming had already locked in a place among the grand final.

Call of Duty BO6 at EWC 25 Playoffs

OpTic Gaming claims series against fellow juggernauts

All eyes were on OpTic Gaming as they took on 100 Thieves in the quarterfinal. Anthony "Shotzzy" Cuevas-Castro stepped up in the final moments with a five-kill streak. The crowd went wild, shouting his name as Shotzzy secured kill after kill. Brandon "Dashy" Otell then followed up to finally take down 100 Thieves.

By closing out the series, OpTic Gaming earned a spot in the semifinals. The team’s composure and resilience showed they have what it takes to make it to the top.

Starcraft II at EWC 25 Playoffs

Classic goes 3-0 against 2024 world champion Clem

During the semifinals, Kim "Classic" Doh-woo faced EWC 2024 world champion Clément "Clem" Desplanche and won with a 3-0 sweep. He opened with two gates in the first game and kept the pressure on throughout the series.

This win was a major moment in the tournament, as Classic knocked out the reigning champion and paved the way for a new one in 2025.

MSC at EWC 25 Group Stage

Team Spirit item stacks become unstoppable

Team Spirit players dominated their MSC at EWC 25 match against HomeBois. They focused on trading evenly throughout the game, knowing that their lineup would outscale the opposition. Mathaios "Kid Bomba" Chatzilakos’ Thunder Belt build was a standout, as the player kept attacking to gain stacks. This made him difficult to burst down by HomeBois’ Mohammad "Izanami" Lim.

Team Spirit’s consistent 50-50 trades and smart item choices helped them control the pace of each game, ultimately securing their 2-0 sweep.

KWC at EWC 25 Semifinals

AG.AL International overcomes constant teamfights

The third game of this Honor of Kings semifinal featured teamfight after teamfight as AG.AL International duked it out against Twisted Minds’ Han Xin and Liu Bang duo, which focused on skirmishes. Despite the early pressure, AG.AL International kept their cool and gradually regained tempo in the mid-game. Step by step, they stabilized and eventually secured the win.

In the post-match interview, Chen “Zoe” Jiahao said that the grand final will be a battle of the strong versus the strong, and perseverance will be the key to victory.

With hundreds of matches taking place over the next week, new legends will rise as champions are crowned and rivals are toppled. Watch the Esports World Cup 2025 live or check out the ticket options to watch the games in person!