Additional Highlights from the Esports World Cup 2025

The VRS Impact of the Esports World Cup

By Striker — August 25, 2025

The Esports World Cup 2025 concluded dramatically in Riyadh as The MongolZ lifted their first Big Event trophy with a commanding win over Aurora in the grand final.This victory reverberated through the Valve Regional Standings (VRS), where the stakes are steep and a prize pot of over $1 million can rapidly shift the competitive hierarchy.

Standings Shake-Up

Aurora (2nd place) and Falcons (3rd place) rose impressively, each gaining approximately +160 VRS points, vaulting to sixth and fifth globally.

The MongolZ surged past MOUZ, claiming third in the VRS and narrowing the gap with top-tier Vitality, whom they defeated for the second time this season after their BLAST Bounty win.

HEROIC, thanks to their upset over Spirit in the opening round, climbed four spots to 14th, strengthening their bid for a Major invite.

Meanwhile, Astralis, Natus Vincere, and FaZe dropped two to three places following early exits—victims of tournament volatility.

Notably, Liquid failed to improve their position and now face the risk of missing the StarLadder Major Budapest, unless they perform well in upcoming events like BLAST Open London and FISSURE Playground 2.

 

Additional Highlights from the Esports World Cup 2025

Event Overview

The 2025 edition of the Esports World Cup, staged in Riyadh from July 8 to August 24, featured 26 events across 25 esports titles and offered a record-breaking $71.5 million prize pool—a massive leap from 2024. The prizes were distributed across the Club Championship, Game Championships, Qualifiers, and MVP Awards.

Chess Spotlight — Magnus Carlsen's Triumph

Magnus Carlsen made headlines by winning the inaugural chess tournament at the Esports World Cup on August 1, 2025. He beat Alireza Firouzja, took home $250,000, and helped Team Liquid edge ahead in the Club Championship standings. Carlsen hailed the event as “an amazing show, unlike anything I’ve ever seen”.

Tekken Rivalry: Knee vs. Arslan Ash

The Tekken scene was equally electrifying, spotlighting the intensifying rivalry between Knee (South Korea) and Arslan Ash (Pakistan). Their feud escalated both online and offline, even featuring a bizarre sticky-looking promotional poster that sparked community jokes and commentary.

Why This Matters

The EWC’s dramatic results demonstrate the high stakes of LAN-level competition and its powerful influence on the VRS—the ladder that largely dictates invites to premier events like Majors. The MongolZ’s breakthrough, Aurora’s and Falcons’ ascents, and HEROIC’s resurgence show how quickly order can shift in Counter-Strike esports.

At the same time, the inclusion of chess and fighting games—as well as mesmerizing personal stories like Carlsen’s victory or the Tekken rivalry—highlight the event’s evolving role as a global esports cultural spectacle.

TL;DR – Key Takeaways

The MongolZ secured their first Big Event, dramatically climbing the VRS.

Aurora and Falcons also gained significantly, entering the global top six.

HEROIC vaulted up after a surprise win; Astralis, NAVI, FaZe, and Liquid slipped.

Magnus Carlsen made chess history at EWC with a high-profile victory.

The Tekken rivalry added rich narrative flavor to the broader show.