Dota 2 Esports World Cup Play-Off Viewer Guide

The Dota 2 Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh is hitting its climax with the Play-Offs from July 16-19! Sixteen teams battled through a brutal Group Stage and Elimination Phase, with eight now fighting for a $3M prize pool and Club Championship points. Team Liquid and Team Spirit lead the pack, but underdogs like Gaimin Gladiators could steal the show. This guide dives into the tournament’s rules, schedule, favorites, and where to watch the action unfold!

What is Esports World Cup (EWC): Dota 2?

Dota 2 Esports World Cup (EWC), hosted by the Esports World Cup Foundation and ESL FACEIT Group in Riyadh, is the ultimate multi-game esports showdown, with Dota 2 as a flagship title. Running from July 8-19, 2025, it’s the final championship of the ESL Pro Tour’s third season, featuring 16 top teams competing for a $3M prize pool. Beyond individual glory, teams earn Club Championship points for their organizations, with the top 16 clubs sharing a $27M pool—$7M for the winner. Points are awarded for top-eight finishes, but to claim the Club Championship, a team must win at least one tournament. In the Play-Offs, matchups like Team Liquid (1.51) vs. Team Falcons (2.44) are electric, with Liquid favored but Falcons backed by home crowd hype.

To witness it is to be part of it.

EGamersWorld and our betting partner, GG.BET plunges you into the tournament’s most thrilling moments, packed with unforgettable action. Feel the adrenaline! Visit gg.bet now to join the excitement, bet, and live the esports passion!

Play-off Schedule

The Play-Offs are a gauntlet of high-stakes matchups, with Team Spirit (1.42) facing Gaimin Gladiators (2.73), the biggest underdogs per GGBet odds, promising a potential upset. PVISION (1.36) takes on Aurora (3.08), a tight clash of rising stars, while Tundra Esports (2.04) challenges BetBoom Team (1.72), and Team Liquid battles Falcons. These best-of-3 quarterfinals and semifinals lead to a Grand Final showdown for the $1M top prize.

• Wed, Jul 16, 12:00 PM CET: Team Spirit vs Gaimin Gladiators
• Wed, Jul 16, 3:30 PM CET: PVISION vs Aurora
• Thu, Jul 17, 12:00 PM CET: Tundra Esports vs BB Team
• Thu, Jul 17, 3:30 PM CET: Team Liquid vs Team Falcons
• Fri, Jul 18, 1:00 PM CET: Semifinal 1 (TBD)
• Fri, Jul 18, 4:30 PM CET: Semifinal 2 (TBD)
• Sat, Jul 19, 4:30 PM CET: Grand Final (TBD)

Every match is do-or-die, with the Grand Final crowning the champ. Tune in for non-stop Dota 2 action

Esports World Cup: Rules

The Dota 2 EWC 2025 kicks off with a Group Stage (July 8-11), where 16 teams are split into four groups of four, playing best-of-2 round-robin matches. The top team from each group advances directly to the Play-Offs, while second-place teams enter the Elimination Phase’s second round, and third/fourth-place teams start in the first round. The Elimination Phase (July 12-13) is a single-elimination Gauntlet Bracket, with four teams advancing to the Play-Offs. The Play-Offs (July 16-19) feature a single-elimination bracket with best-of-3 matches for quarterfinals and semifinals, culminating in a best-of-3 Grand Final. Ties in the Group Stage are resolved using head-to-head results, game score difference, or additional tiebreaker matches if needed.

EWC Playoffs Favorites

Team Liquid (22.78%) and Team Spirit (1.42 vs Gaimin Gladiators) are GGBet’s top picks to dominate, with BetBoom Team (21.71%) and PVISION (19.51%) close behind, thanks to their Group Stage dominance. Aurora’s aggressive meta could surprise, while Tundra Esports and Team Falcons are wildcard threats. Meanwhile, Natus Vincere struggled, exiting in the Elimination Phase Quarterfinals after a 2-0 loss to Team Falcons, a disappointing follow-up to their revamped roster’s hype.

Esports World Cup Phase 1 & 2 Score

The Group Stage (July 8-11) saw 16 teams in four groups battle in best-of-2 matches, with Team Spirit, BetBoom Team, Team Liquid, and Aurora topping their groups to secure Play-Off spots. The Elimination Phase (July 12-13) was a ruthless single-elimination Gauntlet, where Xtreme Gaming, Team Yandex, Talon, and Team Falcons advanced, while Natus Vincere, Virtus.pro, Execration, HEROIC, and Shopify Rebellion fell short. The stage is now set for the Play-Offs to decide the champion.

These results highlight the fierce competition leading into the Play-Offs.

Where to Watch Dota 2 EWC Play-off?

Catch every heart-pounding moment of the Dota 2 Esports World Cup 2025 Play-Offs live on the official EWC’s Twitch and YouTube channels, with VODs and highlights available post-match. EGamersWorld will also embed the official stream on our dedicated tournament page, so you can follow the action and stay updated with real-time scores and insights at egamersworld.com