As the world of competitive Overwatch heats up, all eyes now turn to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where the OWCS Stage 2 Midseason Championship will unfold as part of the massive Esports World Cup 2025. This event is set to be one of the biggest international esports tournaments of the summer, not only showcasing top tier Overwatch gameplay but also amplifying the global scale of the championship with a record breaking prize pool and participation.
Sixteen teams from around the world have earned their places in this prestigious midseason battle. Each of them has secured qualification through their respective regional OWCS Stage 2 circuits. From dominant Korean squads like T1 and AG.AL to North America’s powerhouses Team Liquid and Geekay Esports, every region has sent its very best. China is particularly well represented with Crazy Raccoon, Weibo Gaming, Team CC, and ROC Esports, while EMEA brings in top talent like AlQadsiah Esports, Virtus.pro, and Twisted Minds. Japan’s VARREL and teams from Latin America and other regions will also round out the diverse competition pool.
The event will unfold in two parts: the Group Stage and the Playoffs. The Group Stage kicks off on July 31 and continues into August 1. The sixteen teams will be divided into four groups of four. Each group will follow a mini bracket format. On the first day, the initial matches will determine who advances to the winners’ match. The victor from that winners’ face off will move directly into the Playoffs. The second day features the lower bracket where teams fight for survival. The losing teams from the initial matches face off, with the winner moving on to face the loser of the winners’ match. The final victor from this lower bracket battle also earns a place in the Playoffs. At the end of the Group Stage, eight teams will remain.
Then begins the Playoff phase, running from August 2 to August 3. This segment of the championship will operate in a traditional bracket format, featuring best of five matches. The Quarterfinals will set the tone as eight squads enter a win or go home phase. Semifinals will follow, with the winning teams advancing to the Grand Final, and the losing teams fighting in a Decider Match for the third place finish. The Grand Final will take place on August 3 at 7:30 PM GMT+1, where the final two teams will compete in a climactic best of five for the title.
The stakes are high, not just in terms of prestige but also financially. The total prize pool for the tournament stands at one million dollars. The champions will take home four hundred thousand dollars along with one thousand Club Points, which are critical for overall Esports World Cup standings. The runners up will receive one hundred eighty thousand dollars, with the third place team earning one hundred thousand. Even teams finishing in the lower tiers will walk away with sizable earnings, making every match count both competitively and financially.
With the world watching, the OWCS Stage 2 Midseason Championship is more than just another tournament. It is a celebration of the Overwatch competitive community’s global reach and continued evolution. Whether fans are cheering for rising stars or established veterans, the event is guaranteed to deliver unforgettable moments, tactical brilliance, and raw emotion on one of the world’s biggest esports stages.
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