The Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS) 2025 Midseason Championship will kick off at the Qiddiya Arena in Boulevard Riyadh City on July 31 and conclude on August 3. Sixteen of the world's top Overwatch 2 teams will compete for a prize pool of $1,000,000, with all eyes on the current favorite, Crazy Raccoon, the winner of both the Esports World Cup 2024 and this year's Champions Clash in Hangzhou.

Structure and Format of the Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS)

• Group Stage (July 31 – August 1) features four groups in a GSL format: initial matches are best-of-2, and all subsequent matches are best-of-3. The top two teams from each group advance.
• Playoffs (August 2–3) will follow a single-elimination format: best-of-3 for all matches, except for the grand final, which is best-of-5.

Participating Teams in the Overwatch Champions Series at EWC 2025

Sixteen teams from around the world will participate in the tournament. Here is the full list of participants.

Asia

• Crazy Raccoon (CR) – qualified through Champions Clash / live event Stage 1 winner;
• T1 – Stage 2 champion in Korea;
• All Gamers Global (AG.GL) – Stage 2 runner-up in Korea;
• VARREL – Stage 2 champion in Japan;
• The Gatos Guapos (TGG) – Stage 2 champion in the Pacific region;
• Team Falcons (FLC) – Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) winner

North America

• Geekay Esports (GK) – Stage 2 champion in North America;
• Team Liquid (TL) – Stage 2 runner-up in North America;
• NTMR / SIGN Esports – third-seeded team from Stage 2 in North America (competed under the name SIGN in the tournament)

EMEA (Europe / Middle East / Africa)

• Al Qadsiah (QAD) – Stage 2 champion in the EMEA region
• Twisted Minds (TM) – Stage 2 runner-up in the EMEA region
• Virtus.pro (VP) – third-seeded team from Stage 2 in the EMEA region

China

• Weibo Gaming (WBG) – Stage 2 champion in China
• Team CC (CC) – Stage 2 runner-up in China
• ROC Esports (ROC) – third team from Stage 2 in China

Crazy Raccoon – The Tournament's Main Favorite

Crazy Raccoon secured their spot in Riyadh by winning the Champions Clash in April in Hangzhou, overcoming early bracket losses and defeating All Gamers Global, T1, and finally, Team Falcons in the finals with a score of 4-2.

While they remain the main favorites, other strong contenders from the Stage 2 regional qualifiers could challenge them. Teams like T1, All Gamers Global, Team Falcons, Varrel, The Gatos Guapos, as well as Geekay Esports, Team Liquid, NTMR/Sign Esports, Virtus.pro, and Weibo Gaming will form a pool of sixteen teams.

Teams to Watch at the Overwatch Champions Series 2025 Midseason Championship

Crazy Raccoon (Asia/Korea): Champions Clash winners, currently on the rise and considered the best Overwatch 2 team in the world. Their dramatic lower bracket journey showcased the depth and resilience of their roster.

Team Falcons (Asia/Korea): Silver medalists at the Champions Clash and winners of the Last Chance Qualifier. The Falcons made it to the championship through gritty regional play and are eager to avenge their loss to Crazy Raccoon.

T1 and All Gamers Global (Asia/Korea): Strong Stage 2 regional teams that reached the late stages of tournaments and are considered serious threats if they meet in the bracket.

Prize Pool for the Overwatch Champions Series 2025 Midseason Championship

Why This Tournament is Important for the Esports Scene

The Midseason Championship is the second major international OWCS tournament this year, a crucial step before the World Finals in Stockholm this November. It offers teams a chance to gain regional prestige and a significant share of the $1 million prize pool to strengthen their positions on the global stage.

Where to Watch the Overwatch Champions Series 2025 Midseason Championship and Viewing Bonuses

Matches will be streamed live on Twitch and YouTube. Viewers can earn free loot boxes, exclusive skins for Kiriko, Genji, and Juno, battle pass XP bonuses, while arena attendees will receive a unique player icon, graffiti, and a name card.