EWC 2025 CS2: Aurora Gaming Defeat Heroic 2:0 to Advance to Semifinals

Aurora Gaming delivered an impressive performance at the Esports World Cup 2025, defeating Heroic 2:0 in the quarterfinals of the CS2 tournament. The Turkish organization showed both tactical depth and composure under pressure, securing a place in the semifinals, while Heroic’s run in Riyadh came to an end.

Map 1 — Mirage (Heroic’s pick)

Heroic started the series strongly, claiming the pistol round, but Aurora quickly seized control. Aggressive mid control and consistent clutch plays allowed Aurora to gain a lead.The turning point came when XANTARES and jottAAA anchored the defense with a four-round streak, denying Heroic’s attacks. The first half ended 7:5 in Aurora’s favor.

Switching sides, Aurora dominated the offense, repeatedly breaking through A-site defenses. woxic was instrumental with opening picks that gave his team early advantages. Heroic struggled to adapt, and Aurora closed out the map convincingly, 13:7.

Map 2 — Dust2 (Aurora’s pick)

Dust2 proved to be much tighter. Aurora opened strong on the T side, using fast long takes and mid control. Clutch rounds from MAJ3R and Wicadia pushed them ahead 6:3.Heroic responded with solid defensive holds, and stavn’s sharp aim reduced the deficit. The half ended narrowly, 7:5, once again in Aurora’s favor.

After the side switch, Heroic equalized the score, and the game became a tense back-and-forth battle. In the late rounds, however, Aurora held their nerve. XANTARES delivered the decisive moment with a triple kill on the B site, sealing the victory 13:11 and the series 2:0.

Aurora Gaming showcased excellent preparation and composure in critical moments. On Mirage, they outplayed Heroic tactically, while on Dust2 they displayed resilience under pressure. With this victory, Aurora advanced to the semifinals of EWC 2025, while Heroic finished their campaign in the 5th–8th place bracket.

The Esports World Cup 2025 takes place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from August 20–24, featuring 16 top teams battling for a $1,250,000 prize pool. The champion earns $500,000, second place secures $230,000, and third place takes $130,000. The tournament follows a single-elimination bracket with best-of-three matches leading up to a best-of-five grand final.