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As surprising as it may sound, one of the best players in the history of Counter-Strike has just made the move to join a non-contender team in BC.Game Esports. The player in question: Aleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev. You read that right. The consensus CS greatest of all time suddenly moves to join a team from the unknown and shocks the rest of the community with his decision. Joining a Tier 3 team is definitely not in everyone’s cards for s1mple’s career. After all, he has led Natus Vincere to a total of 13 S-Tier tournament wins in seven years, including a massive finish at the PGL Major Stockholm 2021 and an Intel Grand Slam that same year. On top of all that, he has established his status as one of the top players in the history of Counter-Strike with all his feats. It can be remembered that he was inactive for nearly two years, stepping away from the game while it was still in Global Offensive, and the transition proved that he was not recently interested in coming up with a run at that time. In the switch to CS2, the Ukrainian star played briefly before eventually coming back to the game in 2024. S1mple in the New Squad S1mple referenced Harry Potter elf character Dobby’s line from both the films and the books, saying “Dobby is free” in regards to his exit from NAVI. While he doesn’t actually have any grudge against his former team, it does seem that there are a lot of talks as to how he could have just staged another comeback with them, but then it’s definitely for the best as the star himself says. “Dobby is free. I just want to play, BC.Game gave me the chance, and they’re serious about building a top-tier team. Let’s see what moves we make and how I can impact things. Maybe some things will change, maybe not–only results will show,” said s1mple. However, moving back to a Tier 3 team is not the optimal move. But s1mple wanted to point out joining BC.Game is definitely a good move for him as it humbles himself and puts him on a different standard to rebuilding his career once more. On top of that, he does not want to waste time in being benched – which could be a potential move for any inactive player coming back to play. With BC.Game, s1mple starts in the squad right away, replacing AWPer Tim “nawwk” Jonasson, who was benched by the squad in late June. He will be joined by Nemanja “nexa” Isaković, Luca “pr1metapz” Voigt, and Aleksandar “CacaNito” Kjulukoski. The squad is also expected to make more transactions in the coming weeks to improve around s1mple. Bye Bye NAVI Following the Austin Major, Natus Vincere actually revealed in a press release that they received a lot of offers for s1mple. All of those were sent into the star’s way for his consideration. Eventually, the Ukrainian star considered joining BC.Game at the end of the day. “We are incredibly grateful to Oleksandr for the journey we traveled together, for the numerous trophies, unforgettable emotions and highlights! We say goodbye for now, but we’ll be waiting to see you back on the server. GOAT!” said NAVI in its statement. Now that s1mple is wearing new threads, it is easy to expect that he will be gunning for a lot of wins to begin his career with the team – starting with the ESL Challenger League Season 50: Europe - Cup #1 this coming August 11th.

No one can deny that Joona “Serral” Sotala has been one of the most dominant players in the history of StarCraft II. Most of the time, he is seen dominating the game with his high-level performances, and he did not waste time in owning the big stage of StarCraft II in the Esports World Cup 2025. Once again, the Finnisher finishes strong, and he is now crowned the champion of the SCII tournament in the EWC, this time, he brings home a massive prize of $200,000, and a promising bragging rights to silence all of his critics who are creating ruckus about him moving on from the game. Definitely served them all right. Serral’s triumph over Kim “Classic” Doh-woo was quite a stunning finish, and it cannot be denied that the SCII star has showed time and time again that he remains as the most prominent player in the game, which says a lot about his legacy in the game. No one would have anticipated that he’ll be coming back for more performances given how he’s missed some time in the game. A Serral Clinic Serral was owning the whole tournament right from the start. The Finnish star did not suffer any losses in the Group Stages when he took down HeRoMaRine and Classic in those games. The Finnisher made it look easy as he plowed through his opponents in just a short amount of time, showing how ready he was coming into the tournament. In the Playoffs, Serral took down one of his rivals in Reynor with a 3-2 thriller – perhaps the only challenging game that he’s played in the whole tournament so far. He would then beat Cure in a sweep in the semifinals before securing his spot in the Grand Final. Classic, on the other hand, had to battle in the lower brackets of the Group Stages after losing to Serral. He defeated ShoWTime in a 3-0 sweep before qualifying for the Playoffs, then swept through Clem in the Quarterfinals and dropped only a single game to Solar in the semis. Serral took a 2-0 lead in a whimper in the final with wins in Persephone and Incorporeal. Classic did find a way to steal a win in Ultralove before Serral jumped back to a 3-1 lead with a win in Pylon. Classic tried to stay alive and even conquered a victory at Ley Lines to make it 3-2, but Serral was undaunted that he took over Torches and Magannatha to deny two more games for Classic and lock up the final for good. A Defining Victory for Serral This victory over Classic marked Serral’s third major world title, behind his championships in IEM Katowice back in 2022 and 2024. It can be remembered that Serral also played in the first SC2 EWC event but fell to Clem in the final. He is also the first finalist to return to the final stage of the same tournament. “This is the highest achievement you can get,” Serral said after the match. “I trained hard, I put a lot of effort into it. I’m kind of speechless, just incredibly happy.” The tournament drew a massive amount of global attention, with the final peaking at 80,000 concurrent viewers and an average of 40,000. That is a total of 1.4 million hours watched, with the final being the most-watched showdown of all.

Group A winners Clement “Clem” Desplanches and Cho “Maru” Sung-joo took their time to triumph on the biggest stage of StarCraft II. Clem stormed through his group like a man possessed. His signature tempo play, crisp micro, and confident engagements were on full display as he dismantled opponent after opponent. While Clem brought the fireworks, Maru delivered a quieter but equally impressive run. The four-time GSL champion leaned into his trademark style – tight, defensive setups into late-game control – and it worked wonders. Doubts were coming into the tournament about whether Maru was still at peak form. He hadn’t looked quite as dominant earlier this year, and some fans wondered if motivation or fatigue might be catching up with him. Both players remain on the wait for their next opponents as of the time of writing. But considering how fast-paced this StarCraft II campaign has been so far, it is only a matter of time before we get to see the impressive performances of these stars once more. French Phenom in Full Force Clem came into this tournament with high expectations, and he delivered. In Group A, he faced a gauntlet of top-tier Zergs and Protoss players – but never looked rattled. His 2-0 win over Solar was particularly impressive, featuring textbook Widow Mine drops and perfect defensive setups that shut down every attempt at counter-aggression. One of his most talked-about games came against Solar, where Clem deflected a tricky proxy Oracle opening and turned it into a 15-minute slugfest that showcased his stamina and control. His micro was razor-sharp, even by Clem's standards; splitting Marines like a machine and stutter-stepping through Banelings without missing a beat. He finished top of his group without dropping a map in several matches. Right now, Clem isn’t just playing to advance – he’s playing like someone who knows this could be his year. Maru on the Rise Where Clem brought raw energy, Maru reminded us what experience looks like under pressure. Placed in a tough Group A with the likes of Reynor, and trigger, Maru had to bring out all the tools in his arsenal. His most memorable series came against trigger, where he fell behind early in Game 2 after losing his third base to a well-timed Blink Stalker push. But Maru, being Maru, held firm with impeccable tank positioning and a bunker line that looked like something out of a Brood War playbook. He clawed his way back into the game with small, efficient trades and closed it out with a clinical 3-base push. He also faced Reynor in a rematch of past GSL showdowns. While many expected Maru to struggle with Reynor’s unpredictable style, he turned the tables with a timing attack featuring fast Ghosts and Liberators, catching Dark’s Swarm Hosts out of position. The result? A classic 3-2 finish and another playoff ticket punched. Clem is proving he's not just the future of Terran – he might already be the present. Maru, meanwhile, continues to defy age, expectations, and the meta itself. With both players peaking at just the right time, and a loaded playoff bracket ahead, the 2025 Esports World Cup is shaping up to be an instant classic. As the playoff stage looms, all eyes will be on Clem and Maru to see if they can carry their momentum into the final rounds. With rivals like Serral, Reynor, and herO still in the mix, the road to the trophy is anything but guaranteed.

With all three IEM events wrapped up in Katowice, Melbourne, and Dallas, it all comes down to IEM Cologne this time of the month as it is slated to bring the best teams in the world together in a massive battle for supremacy, as this tournament will have serious implications down the line. For starters, Team Vitality is still a hot favorite to win it all, but can they pull off another storied finish? From February 2025 up to the time of writing, Team Vitality has lost only one game, and it cannot be denied that there are a lot of expectations as they even managed to complete a lot of tournament wins in just a short span of time. The French squad’s dominance in CS2 is starting to take shape well, and it cannot be denied that we are in for a massive treat as they continue to own the big stage with the way they are playing right now. As of the time of writing, IEM Cologne’s favorites mark remain at the hands of Team Vitality. However, it does seem that they will need all they’ve got to fire up a promising finish in this tournament as they seek to deliver one of the most amazing stretches that the CS2 competitive scene has ever seen. What to Expect in IEM Cologne? IEM Cologne begins tomorrow, July 23 with the Play-In Stages, in which 16 qualifying teams will get the chance to come up with elite performances and deliver a chance to leave their mark to make it to the deeper round of the tournament – the Group Stages from July 26th to 30th, where another set of eight invited teams will start their play against the other eight qualifying teams from the Play-In. Teams who are set to take on the Play-In are Complexity, FlyQuest, BIG, paIN Gaming, Ninjas in Pyjamas, B8, FURIA, MIBR, GamerLegion, FaZe Clan, Astralis, 3DMAX, HEROIC, Team Liquid, Virtus.pro, and TYLOO. Qualified teams who received direct invites from the event organizers are as follows: Team Vitality, MOUZ, Team Spirit, Team Falcons, The MongolZ, Aurora Gaming, G2 Esports, and Natus Vincere. Winning teams in the Group Stages will then advance to the Playoff Stage, which will take place from August 1st to 3rd to determine the winner. By the Numbers: The Favorites to Win IEM Cologne does little to separate the odds well from teams. Obviously, Team Vitality is the top pick to win it all with odds of -1.83, and the next team behind them is Team Falcons, who stand at -5.50. After that, it is a set of teams with little distances from one another, such as MOUZ (-6.50), Team Spirit (-6.50), The MongolZ (-9.00), and Natus Vincere (-16.00). Team Vitality’s status as a favorite remains constant with the way they have won a lot of games dating back to February 1st. In that span, they have only dropped one game, but not lost any single tournament in that stretch, which says a lot about their dominance and how well they have established their dominance in the CS2 world. Of course, there will always be teams to look out for when it comes to their chances of winning. But then again, Vitality has always managed to outlast its toughest opponents on the big stage, so this one shouldn’t be that different as they seek a glorious finish now more than ever.

In a dominant run, Team Spirit just showed that they are still owning the Dota 2 world, winning the Esports World Cup 2025 's Dota 2 segment with a sweep in the final against Team Falcons, proving that they can still be the top dog in the competition when it matters most, and it says a lot about their dominance in the game. It cannot be denied that Team Spirit was a huge favorite to begin the Esports World Cup. They managed to finish with just one game lost in the Group Stage's first match. Since then, they went on to win 11 games in a row, and keeping their foot on the gas from start to finish, earning them a fantastic victory in the World Cup. Perhaps the best thing about this is the fact that the EWC is the last major tournament of the Dota 2 scene before TI 2025 will make its mark in September. Team Spirit's win in this tournament means a lot as it now means that they will be top picks to win the incoming major campaign now more than ever. A Campaign for the Ages After falling short in the PGL Wallachia Season 5, Team Spirit definitely made their presence felt and came up with a win in one of the year's biggest tournaments. This clearly proved to be quite the statement as they hoped to show that they can be a contender to watch. So far, it has been a great thing for the Russian squad, which is definitely timely for their case in the upcoming The International. With the win, Team Spirit claimed a whopping $1 million out of the $3 million prize pool. This now marks the second time that the squad has won a massive event outside of The International. Team Spirit and Team Falcons had eerily different paths en route to the final of the Dota 2 EWC. Spirit owned the standings of Group A with sweeps over Talon Esports, Natus Vincere, and a lone 1-1 draw with Xtreme Gaming. On the other hand, Falcons were just lucky enough to stumble into the upper rounds as they managed just a 2-4 record overall. As both teams met in the final, Team Spirit was already on pace to make their presence known on the big stage. That didn't take long as they hammered the Falcons, and made it clear that they are not losing this one as the series ended in a sweep at 3-0, with the Falcons not standing a chance to redeem themselves at any point. Setting the Tone for The International Watching Spirit at EWC, one sees more than crisp mechanics and perfect team fights. There's an unmistakable rhythm to their play: Miposhka and rue delivering textbook support rotations, Larl controlling the midlane tempo, Yatoro's Carries playing with surgical precision, and Collapse earning MVP honors thanks to his unrelenting offlane presence. Fuelled by momentum, synergy, and swagger, Spirit now enters Hamburg not just as participants, but as prime contenders for a historic three-peat — something no previous team has ever achieved. Their rivals have struggled with consistency, but Spirit's trajectory suggests they're hitting form at the perfect time. Beyond the million-dollar prize and the critical ESL Pro Tour points, this dominant showing injects a powerful surge of confidence just as The International 2025 draws near.

Much of Counter-Strike 2’s competitive scene resides in the North American and European side over the years. Sure, there are some events held in Asia, but nothing seems to be bigger than the upcoming event that will be hosted by the Asian Champions League, backed by Hero Esports, this 2026, which will bring a lot of teams hailing from Mainland Asia, Southeast Asia, and even Oceania. This CS2 event will be held from January to March 2026 for the open qualifiers, while the closed qualifiers comes in from April 29th to May 3rd, 2026. It is a great opening for teams residing in the Asian scene of the game, where there’s not much exposure with the lack of many major tournaments that are expected to come around in the area. With the ACL coming to host one big tournament, it is expected that there will be more teams that will come out to play. The top 16 teams from the Asian Valve Regional Standings will then receive invitations after the qualifiers. The LAN event will be running from May 11th to 17th. A trial run of the event took place last May, with TYLOO securing victory and $100,000 in prize money – and a slot at the 2025 Esports World Cup. An Exposure Chance for Asian Teams Asian CS2 teams aren’t that much popular due to the fact that they don’t get enough chances to participate in the big competitions that the esport comes up with. Still, that doesn’t mean that there’s not a big idea that is coming their way with Asian teams now slated to play in the ACL on a bigger scale. The ACL is the latest organizer to make an announcement for a CS2 event in 2026. While it is yet to be determined if participating teams and eventual winners will gain entry to the subsequent Esports World Cup 2026, it is already attracting a lot of attention, with teams already coming up with some entries of their own to join the tournament. Multiple teams are expected to come into the fray and join the hype. For starters, there will be some notable esports groups in the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia for starters. China is also home to major esports teams that are starting to make their presence felt in other games, so ACL bringing CS2 to their doorstep is a huge win at this point. Crashing Through Some Tournaments The Asian Champions League isn’t without hiccups, though. For starters, it is already set to experience some difficulty in bringing in some of the top teams in the region with tier-one events already set in the Asian calendar to begin with. One of these tournaments is the PGL Astana, which takes place this May 9th to 17th. There’s also the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) that usually takes place in the same date proposed by the ACL for its 2026 edition. Still, this means that the Asian Champions League will have the big chance to provide exposure and opportunity for a lot lof lesser-known CS2 teams who are keen to take their chances on the big stage. In time, the Asian Champions League should have its own prestige, and in the long run, it has the strong potential to even become a tier-one event, and if possible, even a CS2 Major in the making.

There are always high expectations when it comes to the Esports World Cup, and for Virtus.pro to lose out in the way they did is quite disappointing than most people think. For a team such as the Russian squad to lose out and drop out of the prestigious tournament is such a tough break and a very unfortunate timing for one of the best teams in the game. As it happened, the squad could not even budge a single win in the Elimination Phase, losing to Team Falcons with a 0:2 score and finishing 13th-16th in the tournament. No one expected that from a winning team such as Virtus.pro, and now their tough exit is roaring in the Dota 2 world. For Nikita “Daxak” Kuzmin, this loss was a very rough finish that will definitely be a massive stain in their reputation for the years to come. If it wasn’t enough, the discussion on various social media platforms and even Dota 2 forums is going to echo as an insult to injury with the way they are being trolled by critics and fans all around. Bowing Out on the Biggest Stage While some may say that it is unexpected, Virtus.pro losing out at this point did not come as a shock. For starters, the team has not won any tournament in the last few months, only finishing first in qualifiers, but never putting the nail in the coffin in the succeeding runs. The last time they won a major tournament? The Kuala Lumpur Major in 2018. If you are not convinced, Virtus.pro has not found a way to win at an impressive pace. In the last 10 matchups, they have only won once – against MOUZ in the Western Europe Closed Qualifier of The International 2025. After that, they’ve only won one game and have lost nine straight series. That includes four in a row in the Esports World Cup 2025, which proved to be the points of Daxak’s whims that definitely sent a strong message to many fans at this point. "As I said in an English-language interview, the most disappointing thing is not that we lost. There are losses when you prepared, did everything together, but something didn't work out for someone, someone got sick, something didn't work out for someone, even though everyone tried, and so on,” said Daxak. Early Exit in the EWC 2025 Virtus.pro faced Tundra, Yandex, Aurora, and Team Falcons in the elimination phase – with not a single win in each of these series. They went 0-8 in that stretch, including that massive drop to the Falcons, which hammered them to the end of the tournament for good. Not that it matters a lot, but they were one of the teams pegged to at least make a deep run in the contest. "It was hard for the coach. Imagine, every day they say that the problem is in the peak. But it wasn't. Even considering that the atmosphere for the last games had recovered a little, the lack of preparation decided the outcome. Alas, it was simply a failure on all fronts." Considering that there are a lot of promising tournaments left to play in the 2025 campaign, one can say that Virtus.pro has very ample time to at least avenge their loss and come up with a bounce-back game now more than ever.

It is a general fact that Canadian star Hamzah “Hera” El-Baher is the best player when it comes to the Age of Empires, spanning his dominance across Age of Empires I, Age of Empires II, and even Age of Empires IV. At the age of 25, he continues to dominate and carries the flag of GamerLegion with his success so far. So when he lost to Gan “Yo” Yangfan in the final of the Medieval Masters last Sunday, fans were left with more questions than praises for the Chinese star. After all, it is super rare for the Canadian star to even lose a single tournament at this point in time. For many players, it doesn’t make that much sense, but then we all know that nothing is impossible in the esports world. Considered to be the best AoE player out there, Hera losing this Medieval Masters to Yo was more of a change of scenery for fans. It was rare air, and it cannot be denied that there are a lot of expectations when it comes to the Canadian’s dominance in the game and how it even happened at this point. How Did Hera Lose? Both Hera and Yo were invited into the Medieval Masters, and both even finished second in their respective Group Stages. Both players also took down top seeds in ACCM and MbL in the quarterfinals before Hera took down another top seed in Liereyy. So when they met in the final, it was expected that Hera would be the one setting the tone and defining the success for his games once more. Yo stole the first game in Enclosed, making quick work of Hera’s tactics even when he played his favorite Hindustanis. Hera would then surge back to take a 2-1 lead after winning in Socotra and Fortress using the Inca and Bohemians against Yo’s Khitans and Bengalis. By that time, all the momentum had shifted into Hera’s favor once more. That’s when Yo played the best of his cards – using the Armenians, Teutons, and the Lithuanians in the final three maps. Hera was usually the one dictating the pace in the matches, but it was Yo who had full control and put pressure on the Canadian star for most of the game. So What Now? Well, the loss for Hera was quite a scene-defining finish. It really felt that Hera was invincible for some time now, as he could not even lose to the best players in the game. Now that there’s a new strong competition for the Canadian star, there’s a sense of balance to look out for in the Age of Empires scene moving forward. For what it is worth, Hera is still the best in the Age of Empires scene, no doubt. But having competition finally kicks this game back into the influential space as it means that there’s a lot of excitement to look forward to. This just means that the expectations are higher than ever, and now Yo would become a promising performer to watch as well. Imagine – an Asian star rising in AoE dominance to challenge the best of the best. Now we have a promising set of tournaments to look forward to – with these two stars at the helm and making their presence felt now more than ever. Finally, a challenge for Hera to expect in the coming tournaments.

Danil “Dendi” Ishutin is no stranger to League of Legends. Long before he cemented his place in Dota 2 history, he had already logged an estimated 2,000 matches on the Summoner’s Rift. He even pursued the top of the ranked ladder, reaching the top 40 before pausing to focus on preparing for The International. This isn’t a newcomer’s curiosity – Dendi was serious about testing League at the highest levels. On stream, Dendi described his experience candidly. He likened the games to comparing chess to checkers, saying League felt strategically restricted. Though he appreciated how LoL had evolved over its fifteen‑year lifespan, he ultimately found Dota 2 to be deeper and more engaging. His view remains firm: he believes the field for outplay in Dota is “insanely huge” compared to League’s. Still, Dendi has recently made moves suggesting a real, albeit temporary, shift. After failing a personal challenge to gain 1,000 MMR in Dota over ten Twitch streams, he uninstalled the game. As part of the same challenge, he committed to diving back into League of Legends. He hasn’t played since 2011, but he still remembers the fundamentals and wanted to embrace a new challenge. A Potential Move? One might wonder if this is simply a break or the beginning of a full transition. Dendi has made clear via multiple interviews and streams that he misses Dota. He has not ruled out playing League seriously but frames his time in LoL as part of his exploration for a refreshing test of skill and excitement . Even as he returns to League, the affection for Dota remains firmly rooted. The underlying question remains: Does Dendi genuinely have what it takes to reach the top of League’s ranked system? He has consistently shown that he is driven by challenges. His ambition to reach top 1,000, or even top 40, on the LoL ladder demonstrates that this is more than just a casual flex. Yet we have to consider the differences between the two games. League generally offers a narrower strategic landscape, while Dota presents vastly more variables and outplay opportunities. That contrast – chess versus checkers – is central to Dendi’s critique . His next moves will tell us more. If he pours hours into climbing the LoL ladder, adapting to evolving metas, and perhaps even climbing toward pro‑level amateur play, then this challenge may transcend mere entertainment. He could emerge as one of the few players to almost bridge the gap between two of the biggest MOBAs. It would not just be a novelty – it would be a statement about his mindset as a competitor. What’s Attracting Dendi? For now, this looks like a side quest rather than a full defection. Dendi is testing his skills, taking a break from the familiar grind, and challenging himself in a new environment. He will almost certainly return to Dota – but when he does, it may be with renewed perspective, fresh ideas, and perhaps even new strategies inspired by his time in League. To truly switch, Dendi would have to commit heavy time and effort toward LoL climbing, content creation in the LoL space, or joining a League‑focused team. He hasn’t indicated such a path yet. Instead, this seems to be an exploration of skill, fun, and self‑renewal. But historical pattern suggests that his legacy will remain rooted in Dota 2 – though with one eye keenly observing Summoner’s Rift.

Winning the championship once is a hard thing to do. But when you’re OpTic Texas playing in the Call of Duty League Championships, the odds seem to dip a little in your favor in achieving history. That is what the 2024 and 2025 champions have done as they defeated the Vancouver Surge in a massive showdown to conclude the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 season. No one would have had this on their cards considering how hard it has been for a team to repeat in the CDL. And yet, OpTic has proven that the odds doesn’t always have to be in their favor to begin with before they can try to repeat as champions and show that they are still the best team in the league. Now that the victory on domestic stage is secured, OpTic now shifts its focus on the global stage – where they will battle in Riyadh for the Esports World Cup 2025 – which will also be the final tournament running for the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 before another one will begin with the next installment of the game. A Remarkable Feat Fans at Kitchener, Ontario hoped for a fantastic finish in the tournament, and so they saw one to remember. The atmosphere was electric, the stakes were sky-high, and both teams came ready for war. OpTic struck first, opening the series with a dominant 250-151 win on Hacienda Hardpoint. Vancouver Surge, unfazed, answered back by taking the second map in flawless fashion with a 6-0 sweep on Dealership Search & Destroy. The two teams traded blows through the next few rounds, but when the series reached its crucial final stretch, OpTic rose to the occasion. After a tightly contested Control map that ended 3-2 in their favor and a convincing 6-2 win on Hacienda Search & Destroy, they closed out the championship with a 250-215 win on Rewind Hardpoint. This win didn’t just earn OpTic another trophy—it reshaped the CDL landscape. In a league known for parity and surprise upsets, no team had ever successfully repeated as champions until now. With this historic back-to-back, OpTic has cemented itself as the defining franchise of the modern CDL era. Dominance Continues The individual performances throughout the tournament were equally impressive. Mercules, who entered the season as a promising talent, exploded onto the main stage with an MVP-worthy showing that captivated the fanbase. Meanwhile, Shotzzy, already a household name, further solidified his legacy by becoming the youngest player to win three world championships across both Halo and Call of Duty. Behind the scenes, legendary former player and now coach Damon “Karma” Barlow added yet another accolade to his resume, securing his fifth world title—two as a coach and three from his playing days. OpTic's Grand Final also broke viewership records. Over 353,000 fans tuned in live, making it the most-watched CDL event of all time. For a franchise with one of the largest and most loyal fan bases in esports, it was a moment of pride and affirmation. For OpTic, it’s not just about defending their title. It’s about dominating every stage they step on, proving that excellence isn’t seasonal—it’s who they are. In an esports world filled with unpredictability, one thing is certain: OpTic Texas isn’t just winning games. They’re making history, and this is the best way they can do it – to beat the odds and win it all.

It cannot be denied that BetBoom is on the rise once more with the way it has evolved as one of the toughest teams to beat in Dota 2. So far, their success in the PGL Wallachia Season 5 championship was a huge feat, and being able to take down the Gaimin Gladiators is a sign of solid dominance that they are mounting up in the big stage. This triumph marks the third tournament won by BetBoom – and the second overall this year. It can be remembered that the squad has seen some tough stretches with three years of inconsistent runs where they have lost and won from time to time. Now that they are back on the winning track, it seems that the European squad is getting to a bigger run now more than ever. On top of that, BetBoom has largely improved well in their games. They did have some poor performances in the past few tournaments, but this win in the PGL stage was a great look for the team considering that they had a lot of tough stretches. After coming up as a runner-up in DreamLeague Season 26, BetBoom has triumphed and earned its place at the top once more. A Big Win for BetBoom BetBoom took a commanding 3-1 victory in the Grand Finals of the PGL Wallachia Season 5, making it look easy against the Gaimin Gladiators – despite the tough competition that was seen from both teams for most of the tournament. BB took home a whopping $300,000 as the lion’s share of the prize money for the tournament. It was a strong outing for BetBoom in the whole tournament – they did have a struggle in the Group Stages when underdogs such as Edge and Natus Vincere nearly put them at the brink of elimination. They did bounce back later to tally just enough wins to push through, taking down Virtus.Pro, Xtreme Gaming, and Team Tidebound to blast their way into the playoffs. No struggles followed after that for the team. They took down Team Spirit in the first round before falling to Team Liquid in the next round. Luckily, they only fell to the lower bracket, which is still a good look for the team as they sent NAVI and Team Spirit before finally avenging their loss against Liquid once more in the same bracket. Grand Final Showdown BetBoom did not slow down in the Grand Final clash with the Gaimin Gladiators. They cruised for a strong win in 30 minutes for the first game, and then snowballed a start in Game 2 before claiming a 2-0 lead in 31 minutes. Gladiators did try to respond and took Game 3 with a better control of the lane to stay alive. However, BetBoom did not let themselves lose two games in a row and wrapped up the showdown after an hour in Game 4. As one of the rising powerhouses in Dota 2, BetBoom deserves a lot of praise for its impressive performances in PGL Wallachia Season 5. After all, they do have to make up for lost time as they seek to come up with strong campaigns that will see them emerge as a contender in the coming months. With the 2025 Esports World Cup and The International also closing in, it does seem that BetBoom has a lot to grind for and find a way to win big once more.