Aurora beat FaZe in Esports World Cup 2025 Round of 16

Aurora eliminated FaZe 2–1 in the Esports World Cup 2025 Round of 16. The Turkish squad bounced back after dropping Inferno, with strong showings on Mirage and Overpass. Özgür "woxic" Eker was named MVP for his steady AWPing and impactful rounds, while Ali "Wicadia" Haydar Yalçın delivered highlight clutches. Jonathan "EliGE" Jablonowski topped the server in frags for FaZe, but it was not enough to carry his team forward. Aurora now moves on to the quarterfinals, while FaZe exits the tournament.

Map 1 – Inferno (13:6 FaZe)

Aurora picked Inferno, but FaZe dominated from the start. A 10–2 half on the CT side gave them full control, with rain producing a standout four-kill hold on A. Despite an ace from Wicadia, Aurora could not recover. EliGE was the driving force, posting big numbers with 19 kills on the opener.

Map 2 – Mirage (13:3 Aurora)

FaZe’s Mirage pick backfired heavily. Aurora’s defense locked the map down with a 10–2 half, shutting down FaZe’s executes. woxic’s AWP controlled mid, while XANTARES added consistent impact. The second half was a formality, with Aurora cleaning up 13–3 to equalize the series.

Map 3 – Overpass (13:7 Aurora)

The decider started close, as FaZe edged the first half 7–5. But after the switch, Aurora shut them out with eight straight rounds on the CT side. Wicadia’s 1v2 clutch and woxic’s steady presence broke FaZe’s momentum completely. EliGE attempted to keep FaZe alive with a multi-kill hold, but Aurora’s coordination closed the series 13–7.

With this win, Aurora moves into the Esports World Cup 2025 quarterfinals, where they will face a yet-to-be-determined opponent. FaZe, ranked seventh worldwide, exited in the Round of 16, falling short against their Turkish rivals.

The Esports World Cup 2025 is being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, featuring the world’s top Counter-Strike 2 teams. Stage 1 and Stage 2 group play concluded earlier this month, with the playoffs running until August 25. The total prize pool is $1,000,000, with $400,000 for first place, $200,000 for second, and $100,000 for third.