Alongside T1, Crazy Raccoon, Team Falcons, and Al Qadsiah also emerged victorious, each winning both of their matches on the tournament’s opening day, showcasing impressive performances.
The tournament boasts a substantial prize pool of $1 million and is part of the broader Esports World Cup, reflecting the increasing popularity and financial viability of competitive gaming.
Sixteen teams are competing, divided into four groups for a double-elimination preliminary round format. Initial matches are structured as best-of-three, while all subsequent group-stage matches will be best-of-five.
The top two teams from each group will secure playoff spots, intensifying the competition as teams vie for advancement.
Following the group stage, the playoffs will employ a single-elimination format, featuring best-of-five quarterfinals and semifinals before culminating in a best-of-seven final on Sunday.
The championship team will walk away with $400,000 and 1,000 Esports World Cup club points, while the runner-up will receive $180,000 along with 750 points. The financial stakes highlight the tournament’s significance in the esports ecosystem.
In Group D action, T1 easily advanced by defeating The Gatos Guapos 2-0, while Sign Esports narrowly prevailed against Twisted Minds with a score of 2-1. T1 then triumphed over Sign Esports in the winners match, winning 2-1 on Busan, 3-1 on Circuit Royal, and 3-1 on New Junk City.
In Group A, Team Falcons led AG.AL International with a 2-0 score, while Weibo Gaming edged Virtus.pro 2-1. The winners match saw Team Falcons triumph with a close 3-2 victory, reinforcing their position as a formidable opponent.
Group B featured Crazy Raccoon defeating VARREL 2-0 and Team Liquid dispatching ROC Esports 2-0, culminating in a thrilling 3-2 victory for Crazy Raccoon over Liquid. The match saw Crazy Raccoon take Lijiang Tower 2-0 before Liquid bounced back on Colosseo.
In Group C, Al Qadsiah and Geekay Esports both began with 2-0 wins. Al Qadsiah eventually defeated Geekay Esports 3-2 after a series of thrilling back-and-forth games, culminating in their victory on Colosseo.
The Friday schedule is packed with critical matches that will shape the tournament’s future.
Group A
–Elimination match: AG.AL International vs. Virtus.pro
–Decider match: Weibo Gaming vs. AG.AL International/Virtus.pro winner
Group B
–Elimination match: VARREL vs. ROC Esports
–Decider match: Team Liquid vs. VARREL/ROC Esports winner
Group C
–Elimination match: Team CC vs. ZoKorp Esports
–Decider match: Geekay Esports vs. Team CC/ZoKorp Esports winner
Group D
–Elimination match: Twisted Minds vs. The Gatos Guapos
–Decider match: Sign Esports vs. Twisted Minds/The Gatos Guapos winner
The Midseason Championship prize pool is distributed 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