🎯 Valorant at EWC 2025: A $1.25M Global Showdown

📅 July 8–13, 2025
📍 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
💰 Prize Pool: $1,250,000
🎮 First-ever EWC Valorant Champion to be crowned

Valorant’s debut at the Esports World Cup 2025 is more than just a tournament - it’s a clash of styles, metas, and mind games from around the globe. With 16 of the best teams from the VCT circuits and Evolution Series, this is the first time the world’s best will battle in one bracket for Radiant glory under the EWC banner.

🧬 Tournament Format: 6 Days, 16 Titans, 1 Crown

EWC 2025 packs the entire tournament into one intense week of tactical mayhem.

📌 Group Stage (Days 1–3)

• 4 groups of 4 teams (GSL-style double elimination)
• Bo3 series
• Top 2 from each group advance to playoffs

💥 Playoffs (Days 4–6)

• 8-team single elimination bracket
• Bo3 Quarterfinals and Semis
• Bo5 Grand Final to determine the first-ever EWC Valorant champion

No second chances. One loss and you’re gone. Every round, every peek, every ult counts.

🌐 The 16 Competing Clubs

VCT EMEA

• 🇬🇧 Fnatic (VCT EMEA Champions)
• 🇪🇸 Team Heretics
• 🇹🇷 BBL Esports (Qualifier)
• 🇫🇷 Karmine Corp (Qualifier)

VCT Americas

• 🇺🇸 Sentinels
• 🇺🇸 G2 Esports
• 🇺🇸 NRG (Qualifier)
• 🇺🇸 100 Thieves (Qualifier)

VCT Pacific

• 🇰🇷 Gen.G Esports
• 🇮🇩 Rex Regum Qeon
• 🇸🇬 Paper Rex (Qualifier)
• 🇰🇷 DRX (Qualifier)

VCT China

• 🇨🇳 XLG Esports
• 🇨🇳 Bilibili Gaming
• 🇨🇳 Titan Esports Club (Evolution Series)
• 🇨🇳 EDward Gaming (Evolution Series)

🧨 Top 5 Teams to Watch

🟠 Fnatic (VCT EMEA Champions)

• How they qualified: VCT EMEA Stage 1 winners
• Why they matter: Led by the ever-entertaining Boaster, Fnatic are a set-play machine. Their deep map pool, post-plant setups, and utility synergy make them the most tactically refined team at the event.

🐉 EDward Gaming (China)

• How they qualified: VCT China + reigning Champions 2024 winners
• Why they matter: The new kings of Valorant. With ZmjjKK landing impossible flicks, EDG mixes brawling with brilliance. Their confidence in double-duelist comps sets the pace every game.

🧨 Paper Rex (Pacific)

• How they qualified: Pacific Qualifier
• Why they matter: SEA’s fearless innovators. Jinggg brings raw aggression, something delivers unpredictable pathing, and d4v41 always has a clutch in the pocket. Expect 5-man rushes, operator re-peeks, and no brakes.

🧊 DRX (Pacific)

• How they qualified: VCT Pacific seed
• Why they matter: Korea’s kings. DRX is synonymous with consistency, discipline, and flawless retakes. With Mako on smokes and anchoring sites, they play chess while others play checkers.

🔴 Sentinels (Americas)

• How they qualified: VCT Americas Stage 1
• Why they matter: The NA giants are back. Zekken is locked in and the addition of seasoned IGL johnqt adds structure. They’ve been inconsistent, but their ceiling is top-tier if momentum hits.

🔍 Storylines to Watch

1. 🔥 EMEA vs China: Tactical Grit vs Raw Firepower

Can Fnatic’s structure outlast EDG’s chaos? Will the Chinese scene’s aggressive pace break Europe’s default-heavy systems?

2. 🧠 Boaster vs The World

Fnatic’s in-game leader is not only hilarious on stage, but brilliant in-game. Can his mind games and fake executes stay one step ahead in a meta now driven by fast flanks and double duelists?

3. 🇨🇳 China’s Takeover Tour

EDG and BLG already won global titles. Can they now win EWC and claim Valorant’s “best region” title for good?

4. ⚠️ America’s Bounce Back

With all of NA’s big orgs in one bracket, who steps up? Will Sentinels finally silence the doubters? Will NRG rediscover form or 100T surprise us?

5. 🤝 Pacific Powerhouse Clashes

Paper Rex and DRX always meet deep in brackets - will we see a rematch in Riyadh with even more on the line?

🧠 Viewing Tips for New and Veteran Fans

• Agent Select = Strategy Reveal: Double initiator? Fast site hits. Viper and Astra? Expect slow defaults and post-plant plays.
• Map Draft = Win Conditions: PRX loves Bind. Fnatic dominates Fracture.
• Ult Tracking = Round Swinging: KJ Lockdown, Viper’s Pit, and Breach’s Rolling Thunder win rounds. Watch how teams stack ults.
• Utility = Info + Impact: Sova darts, Fade prowlers, or Raze satchels - small tools, big plays.
• Mini-map & Economy = Storyline: Watch for operator buys, half buys, or eco gamble stacks. Momentum flips in seconds.

🎯 Who’s taking the first EWC VALORANT crown?

🏆 Will it be the disciplined kings of Europe? The chaotic beasts of China? Or will SEA, NA, or Korea spoil the party?
👉 Make your pick and back your team live at SBX.com
🎮 And if you’re new to Valorant - or just diving into the Esports World Cup - check out our EWC 2025 Viewer’s Guide to get the full rundown on all the games, storylines, and squads to watch across every title.

Let the utility fly.