Esports World Cup 2025 CS2: Teams, Format, Betting, and More

The 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC) is ready for an epic showdown, and the Counter-Strike 2 tournament is at the heart of the action. Set to kick off on August 20th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this event will feature 16 of the world’s most elite teams battling for a jaw-dropping $1.25 million prize pool.

But the stakes are even higher than just winning the championship title. As a key event within the EWC’s lineup of 21 games, the results could significantly impact the broader Esports World Cup Club Championship standings. This means a team’s performance in CS2 could ultimately determine the best esports club in the world. Here’s everything you should know about it.

• Dates: August 20 to August 24, 2025
• Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Prize pool: $1,250,000

Participating Teams

Let’s look at all the 16 teams who are participating in the EWC 2025 CS2 event.

• Team Vitality: apEX, ZywOo, flameZ, mezii, ropz, XTQZZZ
• MOUZ: Torzsi, xertioN, Jimpphat, Brollan, Spinx, sycrone
• Team Spirit: chopper, magixx, zont1x, donk, sh1ro, hally
• Team Falcons: Magisk, NiKo, TeSeS, kyxsan, m0NESY, zonic
• The MongolZ: bLitz, Techno4K, 910, mzinho, Senzu, maaRaa
• Aurora Gaming: XANTARES, MAJ3R, Wicadia, woxic, jottAAA, Fabre
• G2 Esports: huNter-, malbsMd, Snax, HeavyGod, TaZ, TBD
• Natus Vincere: b1t, Aleksib, jL, iM, w0nderful, B1ad3
• GamerLegion: sl3nd, ztr, Tauson, PR, REZ, ashhh
• FaZe Clan: rain, karrigan, frozen, EliGE, NEO, TBD
• Astralis: dev1ce, Staehr, stavn, jabbi, ruggah, TBD
• 3DMAX: Lucky, Ex3rcice, Maka, Graviti, bodyy, wasiNk
• HEROIC: SunPayus, LNZ, yxngstxr, xfl0ud, tN1R, sAw
• Team Liquid: NAF, Twistzz, ultimate, NertZ, siuhy, DeMars DeRover
• Virtus.pro: FL1T, fame, electroNic, FL4MUS, ICY, F_1N
• TYLOO: Attacker, JamYoung, Moseyuh, Mercury, Jee, zhokiNg

Competitive Format and Schedule

Unlike the typical Swiss or double-elimination formats seen in most Counter-Strike tournaments, the Esports World Cup is throwing out the rulebook. This year’s event features an incredibly intense, single-elimination bracket right from the start. There are no group stages and no second chances. 

Every match is a do-or-die situation, meaning a single loss sends a team home. This unforgiving format creates a high-pressure environment that puts favourites at serious risk of an early exit, while also giving underdogs a prime opportunity to pull off a massive upset. The tension will be high and the action will be non-stop from the very first round.

Here’s the complete schedule of the event:

Teams to Watch

After skipping BLAST Bounty Season 2, fans will be glued to the performance by the Falcons team. They have had weeks to practice with their new player, Maxim “kyousuke” Lukin. Although the team was eliminated in the group stage at IEM Cologne, their new player performed well in his debut tournament.

All eyes will also be on Vitality, who are on the easier side of the bracket and have a clear path to the finals. Meanwhile, on the other side of the bracket, MOUZ, Spirit, and the Falcons will battle it out.

First, the Falcons must face the formidable G2 team to avoid an upset. However, having already put up a tougher fight than expected against Spirit in the BLAST Bounty tournament, it wouldn’t be a shock to see G2 beat the Falcons.

On the other hand, Spirit could have an awkward match against HEROIC, as they are rumored to be signing HEROIC’s star player, Andrey “tN1R” Tatarinovich. 

Astralis could also be a serious contender, especially with dev1ce playing well again and their recent impressive win against NAVI at BLAST. But, their first opponent is TYLOO, the very team that beat them twice recently at FISSURE Playground 1. 

With so many unexpected turns and a tough competition, the games are going to be a thrilling-pack for all the fans to witness. 

Esports World Cup 2025 CS2: Betting Odds

There are numerous betting markets available for wagering on the EWC 2025 CS2. Let’s look at the most popular ones.

• Moneyline bets: In simpler terms, this kind of betting just involves picking which team you think will win a particular match.
• Outright bets: This one is about picking the overall winner of the entire EWC 2025 CS2 competition. If the team you choose makes it to the Grand Final and wins, then you win your bet.
• Special bets: These bets offer excellent odds and are a great way to use your in-depth knowledge of CS2.
• Live bets: You can also bet on the EWC 2025 CS2 matches as they are happening, though this might not be available everywhere.

If you are interested in placing bets on these matches, 7bet offers a variety of betting markets to choose from. However, ensure that you adhere to all the responsible gambling practices before wagering your money. 

Where to Watch Esports World Cup 2025 CS2?

You can catch all the EWC 2025 CS2 matches live on the official Esports World Cup Twitch and YouTube channels. Full match videos and highlights will also be available on their YouTube channel, so you don’t miss out on any action.

What’s at Stake?

More than just an honour, the Esports World Cup 2025 CS2 champions will take home $500,000 from the $1.25 million prize pool. Let’s look at its distribution.

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Betting is only available to participants above 18 years. Please bet responsibly. BeGambleAware.org