Sentinels eliminate Xi Lai Gaming with 2–1 comeback in EWC 2025 VALORANT group stage

Riyadh, July 9, 2025 — In a tense elimination match at the Esports World Cup 2025, North American powerhouse Sentinels pulled off a hard-earned 2–1 victory over Chinese contenders Xi Lai Gaming (XLG), sending them out of the tournament.

The Best-of-3 series featured momentum swings and high-level VALORANT across all three maps:

• Lotus — XLG came out swinging, controlling the pace and claiming a 13–9 win with sharp executes and strong utility usage.
• Sunset — The second map was a tug-of-war, but Sentinels held their nerve, showing improved mid-round calls to take it 13–8.
• Haven — In the decider, Sentinels looked far more composed. Their coordinated site retakes and clutch plays earned them a 13–9 victory and the series win.

This victory allows Sentinels to keep their chances of advancing from Group C alive as they head into a decisive match against DRX. Meanwhile, Xi Lai Gaming exit the tournament after this elimination loss — their promising run comes to an end despite a strong start on Lotus.

The Esports World Cup 2025 is a Valorant championship organized by the EWC Foundation and ESL FACEIT Group. The tournament will feature 16 teams competing for a total prize pool of $1,250,000. The event will take place in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.