Joining Virtus.pro and Twisted Minds in the playoff arena are Team Liquid and Geekay Esports, completing an elite field of eight teams. The four initial group winners, Team Falcons, Crazy Raccoon, Al Qadsiah, and T1, had already claimed their spots earlier in the competition.
This $1 million tournament is a key event in the Esports World Cup, drawing intense global competition.
The tournament began with 16 teams, divided into four groups for a double-elimination format. Initial matches were played as best-of-three, while all subsequent group-stage matches transitioned to best-of-five formats. The top two teams from each group secured playoff spots.
Playoffs will operate in a single-elimination format, featuring best-of-five quarterfinals and semifinals, culminating in a best-of-seven grand final set for Sunday.
The champion will take home $400,000 and a significant 1,000 Esports World Cup club points, while the runner-up will receive $180,000 and 750 points.
On Friday, Virtus.pro initiated its campaign with a dominant 3-0 win over AG.AL in the Group A lower-bracket semifinal, winning matches 2-1 on Lijiang Tower Control, 3-2 on Circuit Royal Escort, and by a narrow margin of 102.89 meters to 83.15 meters on Esperanca Push.
The victory set up a rematch against Weibo Gaming, who had previously defeated them 2-1. Seeking revenge, Virtus.pro triumphed with a 3-2 score in the lower-bracket final, showcasing resilience and strategy.
Twisted Minds followed a similar path in Group D, sweeping The Gatos Guapos 3-0 and dominating Sign Esports in the lower-bracket final with two shutouts and a final score of 4-3, showcasing their determination to advance.
In Group B, VARREL edged past ROC Esports 3-2, only to face Team Liquid, who asserted their dominance with a clean 3-0 sweep, effectively advancing to the playoffs.
Meanwhile, in Group C, Team CC dispatched ZoKorp Esports 3-0, before engaging in a nail-biting encounter with Geekay Esports that ended with a 3-2 victory for Geekay after a series of closely contested maps.
The competitive landscape continues to unfold, with quarterfinal matches scheduled for Saturday:
— Crazy Raccoon vs. Twisted Minds
— Al Qadsiah vs. Virtus.pro
— T1 vs. Team Liquid
— Team Falcons vs. Geekay Esports
The prize pool distribution for the Midseason Championship is as follows:
1. $400,000, 1,000 points
2. $180,000, 750 points
3. $100,000, 500 points
4. $60,000, 300 points
5-8. $35,000, 200 points
9-12. $20,000, no points
13-16. $10,000, no points