On day two of Esports World Cup 2025, eight teams each played for their tournament lives in their first EWC elimination game. Bilibili Gaming Bilibili Gaming China Rank #3 whzy Wang Haozhe (王昊哲) rushia Wang Xiaojie (王晓杰) nephh Marcus Tan yilai Gu Yiming (顾依铭) Knight Liu Yuxiang (刘宇翔) bud Yang Renyu (杨韧余) , Sentinels Sentinels North America Rank #4 Reduxx Yassin Aboulalazm Jerrwin Gurjiwan Gill Victor Victor Wong stand-in johnqt Mohamed Amine Ouarid cortezia Gabriel Cortez JonahP Jonah Pulice , Team Heretics Team Heretics Europe Rank #6 koshmaras Martynas Namikas Wo0t Mert Alkan RieNs Enes Ecirli benjyfishy Benjamin David Fish Boo Ričardas Lukaševičius , and EDward Gaming EDward Gaming China Rank #2 ZmjjKK Zheng Yongkang (郑永康) nobody Wang Senxu (王森旭) CHICHOO Wan Shunzhi (万顺治) Smoggy Zhang Zhao (张钊) Jieni7 Zhang Juntai (张君泰) managed to find their way through to force another matchup in the group stage, while G2 Esports G2 Esports North America Rank #2 jawgemo Alexander Mor BABYBAY Andrej Francisty trent Trent Cairns valyn Jacob Batio leaf Nathan Orf , Xi Lai Gaming Xi Lai Gaming China Rank #1 WsLeo Huang Pinwei (黄品维) Lysoar Liang Youhao (梁优好) NoMan James Man Rarga Arthur Churyumov happywei Deng Minwei (邓闵维) , Titan Esports Club Titan Esports Club China Rank #17 Haodong Guo Haodong (郭浩东) lucas Yunkun Lu (路昀昆) Spitfires Xin Mingyan (辛明阳) Dynamite Zhao Zihao (赵梓浩) Coco Ding Dajian (丁达建) , and 100 Thieves 100 Thieves North America Rank #3 Cryocells Matthew Panganiban Asuna Peter Mazuryk vora Jordan Pulwer Timotino Timothée Lavigne Dupont bang Sean Bezerra were eliminated from the EWC.

Bilibili Gaming eliminates G2 Esports in 2-1 fashion

In the first match of the day, Group A had their elimination game between two Masters Toronto teams: BLG and G2. Like their previous match against Karmine Corp Karmine Corp Europe Rank #175 dos9 Zhumagali Dastan LewN Burak Alkan Avez Hazem Khaled SUYGETSU Dmitry Ilyushin N4RRATE Marshall Massey , G2 played with assistant coach shhhack in place of leaf , while BLG ran the same roster that won them their first match in VCT China 2025 Stage 2.

That substitution couldn't be more evident in the first map for G2, as it was truly dominant for BLG. Despite both teams running relatively normal compositions for Sunset, it was a masterclass for nephh on KAY/O to help BLG reach the half up 10-2. When G2 lost the second pistol, it was only a matter of time for BLG, as they won Sunset quickly, 13-3.

Pearl was next, but this time it was a reversal of momentum between the two teams. Moving shhhack onto Killjoy seemed to pay dividends for G2, as they decided to run a Tejo composition and give BLG the strong taste of defeat. The half ended 9-3 for G2, and they won the second pistol to quickly end the map 13-4 and tie the series 1-1.

It all came down to Icebox, which ended up as the most entertaining map of the series. G2 ran their version of the no-Duelist Sage composition that FNATIC popularized in 2025, while BLG ran the Harbor composition with whzy on Jett, which is where he shines most. Even as G2 ended the half up 7-5 with trent popping off on Sova, BLG matched and surpassed G2 on their defense side.

It was whzy who ended up getting BLG over the edge as they won the map 13-11 and the series 2-1, eliminating G2 from the EWC.

With this win, BLG will face Karmine Corp for both teams' final chance to make it to the EWC playoffs.

Sentinels sends Xi Lai Gaming home

In a similar fashion to Group A, Group B also had two Masters Toronto teams looking to stay alive, while one of them ran a coach on their starting roster. This time around, it was XLG, who were still trying to fill in the hole that YOU left, using hvoya for the EWC.

The series began on Lotus, with Sentinels running their Vyse composition to face off against the double Duelist from XLG. Despite losing the pistol, Sentinels were in form to begin the series, especially zekken . On Raze, zekken ended his attack half a perfect 5-0 on first kills to first deaths, leading to a 7-5 lead at the half. Then, on the defense side, it was bang who stepped up to prevent any runs from XLG. Sentinels won the second pistol, and despite losing the bonus, were able to cleanly end map one 13-9 to take the series lead.

Sunset was next, and XLG decided to put everyone in their comfort roles, with hvoya filling in on Deadlock. Sentinels ran their standard Sunset composition, but their attack struggled against the double Sentinel from XLG. N4RRATE was having a strong map as Fade, but both Viva and happywei were stomping through the rest of the team. The half was 7-5 for XLG, who did well considering they lost the first pistol.

Then, when the sides swapped, it was all in for XLG. The recent regional champs got the pistol round, and even after losing their bonus, ended the map 13-8 to take the series to map three.

That left the series on Haven, where Sentinels pulled out the Viper pick. Despite some strong efforts from XLG, Sentinels won the pistol and looked right back in form, just like their map one performance. Once again, it was zekken on the attack side that took the team to an 8-4 lead, and bang on the defense side to close out the map 13-9 and win the series 2-1.

With this win, Sentinels will face Kiwoom DRX Kiwoom DRX Korea Rank #3 Hermes Ahn Byeong-wook (안병욱) yong Kim Ho-yong (김호용) MaKo Kim Myeong-gwan (김명관) free1ng No Ha-jun (노하준) HYUNMIN Song Hyun-min (송현민) BeYN Kang Ha-bin (강하빈) to see which team makes it out of Group B to the playoff stage of the EWC.

Team Heretics defeats TEC in a surprisingly tight series

This matchup in Group C, on paper, was one of the most expected wins of the tournament so far. Team Heretics, one of the best teams from EMEA trying to make up for some poor international performances, faced off against Titan Esports Club, a VCT China team that has yet to make an VCT international tournament.

That made it all the more surprising when TEC won first pistol and entered the first half of Icebox up 7-5. Even as Heretics won the second pistol, TvirusLuke stomped over Heretics to quickly get the lead right back. Then, just as Heretics threatened to tie the game late, Haodong started to frag to stop the EMEA team right in their tracks. It was Coco with three kills to secure Icebox 13-10 to put all the pressure on Heretics.

Haven was next, and Heretics decided to run their double Duelist with Wo0t on Iso, winning pistol. The confidence from Heretics looked much improved on Haven, taking frequent aggressive duels on the defense side with Wo0t as the spearhead. Boo even joined the fun with an ace on round eight, helping Heretics end the half up 9-3.

TEC won the second pistol to start hinting at a comeback, and converted the bonus to make it possible. Both Haodong and lucas were pulling some amazing rounds out of seemingly nowhere, tying the map at 11-11. Once again, lucas landed a clutch shock dart to give TEC their first lead of the map, but RieNs calmly won a 1v2 to take the map to overtime. It looked like the defenders were going to win to extend OT, but RieNs once again was smart to close out the map 14-12 and take the series to map three.

The deciding map was Sunset, a map that Team Heretics was dominant on when it was first released in pro play. To try and beat it, TEC ran their Deadlock composition, and won the first pistol to start the defense off right. TEC was unable to convert the bonus, and then the half started slipping away. Heretics were quick to reach six round wins, and it took a lucas ace to stop the bleeding. Even then, Heretics entered the half up 8-4, and converted the second pistol to put the squeeze on TEC.

TEC were able to stop Heretics from converting the bonus, but that was the last notable round win they had at EWC. Heretics were able to complete the map 13-6 and win the series 2-1, eliminating TEC from the tournament.

With this win, Heretics will face Rex Regum Qeon Rex Regum Qeon Asia-Pacific Rank #3 Monyet Cahya Nugraha xffero David Monangin Jemkin Maksim Batorov Kushy Bryan Carlos Setiawan crazyguy Ngô Công Anh in the final game of Group C.

EDward Gaming steals the win from 100 Thieves

The series began with a banger of a Haven match, as EDG were constantly trying to outsmart the double Duelist from 100 Thieves. Asuna on Neon was frying early on, as Cryocells on Yoru only got better as the match stretched in the second half. EDG was down 8-4 at the half, and ZmjjKK tried his best to bring the game back, but 100 Thieves closed it out 13-11 by winning a 2v4 post-plant.

Next up was Sunset, but even with their roster changes, this is still a great map for EDG. ZmjjKK on Neon was able to take more fights than on Haven, and nobody hit some nasty shots to enter the half up 7-5 despite losing the first pistol. EDG was able to win the second bonus to reach double-digit rounds, and the rest of their defense was near immaculate as they quickly won 13-7 and tied the series.

The series all came down to Ascent, with EDG surprising by choosing Waylay and winning the first pistol off a great performance from CHICHOO . EDG nearly ran away with the attack side, but Zander had some amazing rounds to win 100T their first defense rounds on Ascent. That bought time for Cryo to get an Operator, but ZmjjKK quickly got rid of it. He was on fire to start Ascent, helping EDG win seven attack-side rounds at the half.

100T would have to match that firepower on their attack to stay alive, but nobody clutched the pistol 1v1 to put EDG far ahead. It looked like a clear victory up 11-7, but 100 Thieves slowly but surely started to pull the game within reach, thanks to some clutches from Asuna and some smart calls from Boostio . However, one fast flood from EDG was all they needed, and the former champs won Ascent 13-10 and the series 2-1.

With the win, EDG will face Gen.G Gen.G Korea Rank #5 Lakia Kim Jong-min (김종민) KiTae Park Ki-tae (박기태) stand-in Ash Ha Hyun-cheol (하현철) Karon Kim Won-tae (김원태) t3xture Kim Na-ra (김나라) for the final chance to make the EWC playoffs.