A story no one really expected. All four EMEA teams not only advanced to the playoffs of the Esports World Cup 2025, but two of them — Team Heretics and Fnatic — faced off in the grand final. Can this tournament success be considered the return of the EMEA region to the tier-1 scene, or was it just luck and a fortunate set of circumstances?

Basic Information About the Tournament

Before we begin, let’s take a look at the basic facts. The Esports World Cup 2025 took place from July 8 to 13 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where 16 of the best teams in the world competed for a prize pool of $1,250,000. The tournament featured 16 teams — four from each region — two of which qualified via Stage 2 and two through qualifiers. In addition to the large prize pool, teams were also competing for club points, which determine the distribution of an additional prize pool at the EWC.

Stats That Speak for Themselves

All four EMEA teams — Fnatic, Team Heretics, Karmine Corp, and BBL Esports — made it to the playoffs. For the first time in years, representatives of the region not only advanced from groups but dominated the entire tournament.

• Team Heretics – Champions, 1st place
• Fnatic – Grand Finalists, 2nd place
• Karmine Corp – 5th–8th place
• BBL Esports – 5th–8th place

Not a single team from the Americas or Asia reached the top 2. Before the start of EWC 2025, this seemed impossible, as the main favorites were Paper Rex, G2 Esports, Gen.G, and Fnatic.

Reasons for EMEA’s Success at EWC 2025

Preparation and Experience

For many tournaments, teams from the European region had been finishing in the top three — their triumph was bound to happen sooner or later. Team Heretics, the champions of the tournament, had reached five grand finals before this event and lost them all. Fnatic, too, had just finished second at Masters Toronto 2025. The experience they gained gave them a boost at EWC 2025.Ь

A Fortunate Set of Circumstances

 It’s also worth noting that some EMEA teams were lucky to reach the playoffs. For example, Karmine Corp — considering the lineup of Group A they were in — were clear underdogs. But a roster change in G2 Esports, where their coach-analyst had to replace leaf, allowed them to defeat the American team and place second in the group.

A similar situation happened with BBL Esports — they defeated Sentinels in a Bo1 overtime match, then faced DRX, who attended the tournament with a renewed roster: one of their players had just been promoted from the academy squad and lacked experience at this level, while the Turkish team had been playing together for over six months.

Lack of Serious Commitment to the Tournament

It was evident that a number of teams didn’t take this tournament too seriously: some arrived with stand-ins, like G2 Esports, or new players, like XLG Esports and DRX. The main reason for this approach is that the tournament is not part of the VCT, and just a week after its conclusion, teams must return home and perform in Stage 2 — the competition that determines qualification for Champions 2025. Making it there is every team’s top priority, as it offers not just glory but also a massive prize pool and additional revenue from skin bundle sales.

Unlike the VCT, most VALORANT organizations don’t have the financial capacity to compete on equal footing with large brands for the EWC club prize pool. For example, Team Heretics, the winners, had another roster fielded at the event. So, this tournament may not have been a priority for some clubs compared to the main and final stage of the season. It's important to note that this is just our personal opinion — only the teams themselves know what their true intentions were.

Final Standings and Prizes

Masters Toronto 2025 offered a large prize pool. Below you can see the current standings and prize money each team received:

Does This Mean EMEA Is Back?

It’s too early to say. Americas and Pacific still dominate and show a high level of play, but at EWC 2025, EMEA delivered a strong result:

• 4 out of 4 teams reached the playoffs
• Full domination in the grand final (both teams from EMEA)
• Mental resilience — European teams frequently came back after losing maps or going to overtime

But the most important tournament of the year is still ahead — Champions 2025. Only after that can we draw real conclusions about which region is currently the strongest in VALORANT.

The next major event is VALORANT Champions 2025, and it will be the final test. If EMEA delivers again — there will be no more doubts about their return. And EWC 2025, held from July 8 to 13, will remain a historic moment — just like Team Heretics, who became the champions and took home $500,000.