Dota 2 Esports World Cup 2025 Day 3 Schedule: Which Teams Will Secure Playoff Spots Today?

The Esports World Cup 2025 for Dota 2 continues as team's head into their third day of play after completing two intense days. Now it’s easier to see which squads have the best chances of advancing. Today will determine the first teams to qualify directly for the EWC 2025 playoffs. Let’s take a look at the schedule and predictions for Day 3 of the group stage—a tournament considered the second most prestigious for Dota 2 players after The International.

Dota 2 EWC 2025 — Day 3 Schedule: Who Will Make the Playoffs?

Day 3 will reveal the first teams to secure a direct playoff spot, with the key match being Team Spirit vs Natus Vincere. The match will be played in a Best of 2 format, so a draw is entirely possible. Our partners at GG.BET have already provided the odds for this matchup, reflecting the expectations of both analysts and the community:

Team Spirit to win — 1.72Draw — 1.98Natus Vincere to win — 7.5

As you can see, Team Spirit are the clear favorites in this matchup. The odds look appealing for any outcome, but in my opinion, a draw or a Team Spirit win is more likely. I’m leaning toward a draw because, in a post-match interview, Radan from Team Spirit mentioned they sometimes like to experiment with drafts. And NAVI have become the kind of team that can punish those experiments and steal a win.

There are also map handicap options to consider:

+1.5 maps for NAVI — odds at 2.04

-1.5 maps for NAVI — odds at 1.75

+1.5 maps for Xtreme Gaming — 1.07

-1.5 maps for Xtreme Gaming — 1.72

GG.BET offers plenty of betting options—you can choose the match result or a map handicap. The matchup promises to be intense, and even a single map win could make a big difference. Can Natus Vincere put up a real fight against Team Spirit, or will it be one-sided? We’ll find out soon, so back your favorite team with our sponsor.

To witness it is to be part of it.

EGamersWorld and our partner GG.BET invite you to dive into the tournament’s most exciting moments, full of intense action and emotion. Feel the thrill! Visit gg.bet to place your bets and experience the true spirit of esports!

Day 3: Dota 2 Match Schedule at the Esports World Cup (Bo2 Format) — Full Overview

The third day of the Esports World Cup Dota 2 group stage continues with the Best of 2 series. Each team will play two maps, with crucial points on the line for the standings. For some teams, it’s a chance to secure a direct playoff spot, while for others, it’s an opportunity to earn a better position for the Elimination Phase.

09:00 GMT/ 11:00 CET

• Team Spirit vs Natus Vincere (Group A, Bo2)
• Xtreme Gaming vs Talon Esports (Group A, Bo2)

Group A will kick off with Team Spirit vs Natus Vincere—a match where the winner could secure a playoff spot. At the same time, Xtreme Gaming will face Talon Esports, with both teams desperately needing points to make the rest of their group stage run more comfortable.

11:30 GMT/ 13:30 CET

• Gaimin Gladiators vs Team Falcons (Group B, Bo2)
• BB Team vs Execration (Group B, Bo2)

An incredibly exciting matchup between two of the strongest teams awaits us: Gaimin Gladiators vs Team Falcons. While Team Falcons have shown some issues lately, this is a great opportunity for Gaimin Gladiators to secure a playoff spot. BB Team have a similar chance, so both matches promise to be very entertaining.

14:00 GMT/ 16:00 CET

• Virtus.pro vs Aurora Gaming (Group C, Bo2)
• Tundra Esports vs Team Yandex (Group C, Bo2)

In this group, Virtus.pro really need to pull themselves together in their match against Aurora Gaming. Otherwise, a poor result in the group stage could hurt their morale going into the Elimination Phase. As for Tundra Esports vs Team Yandex, it should be straightforward for Tundra—unless Team Yandex’s captain, Solo, has something special prepared for his opponents.

16:30 GMT/ 18:30 CET

• Heroic vs Team Liquid (Group D, Bo2)
• PARIVISION vs Shopify Rebellion (Group D, Bo2)

Heroic vs Team Liquid is expected to be a very close match. Both teams are in good form right now, so it could easily end in a draw—something Heroic would want to avoid. On the other hand, PARIVISION are one of the tournament favorites, and they shouldn’t face much trouble against Shopify Rebellion. A win here would make them the first team to secure a playoff spot.

Team Spirit vs Natus Vincere

The clear favorites in this match are the two-time TI champions, Team Spirit. But they’ll need to be cautious of Natus Vincere, who have already shown at this tournament that they’re ready to fight to the very end. This is the same roster that earned its promotion from Na`Vi Junior to the main lineup through strong results. The players are highly motivated and hungry for wins, so anything can happen.

Xtreme Gaming vs Talon Esports

The nominal favorites here are the Chinese squad Xtreme Gaming, but it’s possible that after their frustrating loss on the second map against Natus Vincere on Day 2, they might not be in top form and could end up drawing against Talon. If Ana avoids overextending alone and they secure strong lanes, Xtreme Gaming should be able to claim a confident win.

BB Team vs Execration

Execration is a team that can take a map off the favorites if their opponents slip up in the draft. However, BB Team are still the clear favorites overall. Their players are individually stronger, their drafts are better, and their macro play is superior as well.

Gaimin Gladiators vs Team Falcons

Gaimin Gladiators currently have a strong record in the standings, and this match is their chance to secure a playoff spot. But their challenge comes in the form of Team Falcons, a team they’ve faced multiple times before. Both sides know each other very well and prepare carefully for these matchups. If Team Falcons are on point, it’s likely to end 1-1 or even 2-0 in their favor. The key for Gaimin Gladiators is to stay focused and push every game to the very end.

Tundra Esports vs Team Yandex

The favorite in this matchup is Tundra Esports. This is due to several factors, one of which is Team Yandex’s completely new roster. While they’re performing decently at the moment and their ideas look promising, when it comes to overall level of play and team cohesion, Tundra clearly have the edge. Team Yandex simply haven’t had as much time to develop as a unified unit. So the match will most likely end 2-0 in Tundra’s favor, although with frequent mistakes, Team Yandex won’t give up their maps easily.

Virtus.pro vs Aurora

Virtus.pro are going through a challenging period right now. They have a relatively new roster and a new coach who previously had no coaching experience. While fng was a solid in-game captain, the question is whether he can elevate the team to a new level as a coach. So far, we’re seeing only struggles without any real success. Meanwhile, Aurora boast two TI winners and an overall strong lineup that has quickly found synergy and proven they can win—something we’re already seeing on display at EWC 2025.

PARIVISION vs Shopify Rebellion

For PARIVISION, this should be an easy ride. The team is clearly several levels above their opponent, Shopify Rebellion. Moreover, according to player interviews, PARIVISION continues to grow as a team, viewing every challenge as just another step toward becoming stronger. That makes them not only the favorite for this match but one of the top contenders for the entire tournament, with the potential to keep winning in the long run.

Heroic vs Team Liquid

Team Liquid look stronger in this matchup. They currently have a 2-0 record after defeating one of the tournament favorites, PARIVISION. Meanwhile, HEROIC lost 0-2 to PARIVISION. So the most likely result is a 2-0 win for Liquid, or 1-1 if Heroic manage to secure their comfort heroes and put together a strong lineup.

Results of Day 2 at the EWC 2025 Dota 2 Group Stage

Here are the results from Day 2 of the EWC Dota 2025 group stage—they give an idea of how intense the upcoming battles will be.

What to Expect from Day 3 of Dota 2 EWC 2025

The Esports World Cup 2025 for Dota 2 is in full swing and gaining momentum each day. Teams have already shown what they’re capable of over the first two days, making it easier to evaluate their playoff chances and make predictions for Day 3.

The third day of the group stage promises intense battles in a Best of 2 format, where every map matters. The schedule features matches across all four groups, including key clashes like Team Spirit vs Natus Vincere, Team Liquid vs Heroic, BB Team vs Execration, and more.

There are no clear favorites in many of these matchups, adding even more intrigue to the tournament. Every team will be fighting for crucial points to strengthen their position in the standings and move closer to the next stage.

Stay tuned to the matches so you don’t miss the key moments and can really experience the atmosphere of the battle for the EWC 2025 title!