Hassan Khan
Riyadh, Aug 12: Esports World Cup 2025 this past week, you could feel that electric mix of adrenaline, cheers, and the hum of hundreds of gaming rigs firing away. Week five in Riyadh wasn’t just another stop on the tournament schedule; it was a showpiece of skill, drama, and history being made in real time.
Team Liquid’s Historic Hat Trick
The loudest roar of the week came when Team Liquid pulled off something no other club has done winning three titles in a single EWC edition. Their final triumph, EA SPORTS FC 25, was a masterclass from Dutch prodigy Manuel Bachoore (ManuBachoore), who edged out France’s Brice Mason in a high paced 5-3 showdown.
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In addition to bringing home trophies, that win solidified Team Liquid’s position atop the Club Championship rankings with 4,200 points. There will be a tight finish because Team Falcons only scored 200 points this week and Team Vitality is currently only 550 points away from passing them.
First Time Champions
For Team Secret, this week was about rewriting their own history. Coming in as Europe’s third seed, they stormed through the Rainbow Six Siege bracket, defeating G2 Esports 3-0 in the final. Their run proved that in esports, rankings mean little when momentum and teamwork click at the right time.
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On home soil, Twisted Minds gave Saudi fans a reason to celebrate, capturing their first Call of Duty: Warzone title. The final against Virtus.pro stretched to ten grueling matches, but in the end, Twisted Minds held their nerve to win by the slimmest of margins.
Football Icons Swap the Pitch for Controllers
Midweek, stc Arena turned into a crossover event no one wanted to miss football legends Ronaldo and Kaka trading their cleats for controllers in a friendly EA SPORTS FC 25 match. The result didn’t matter; the sight of two global icons laughing, competing, and joking with fans brought an entirely different kind of energy to the tournament.
Hideo Kojima Joins the Party
In a move that had gaming fans buzzing, the EWC Foundation announced that Hideo Kojima, the visionary behind Death Stranding, would attend the event. He’s set to appear at the New Global Sports Conference, offering exclusive insight into Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. Fans will also get a rare chance to meet him at Publishers Park, complete with cosplay events inspired by his work.
Closing the Week on a High
As week five came to a close, the sense was clear: this wasn’t just a series of matches it was a celebration of gaming culture. From first time champions to record-breaking feats and celebrity moments, Riyadh reminded the world why the Esports World Cup is becoming a must-watch global spectacle. And with more tournaments still to come, the story of EWC 2025 is far from finished.
