EWC VALORANT 2025 Group Draw: the Winners and Losers

The groups have been drawn for the Esports World Cup’s inaugural VALORANT event. A clear group of death has already left some teams reeling, while others will be more than happy with their route to the knockout stage.

EWC VALORANT group draw

Groups were drawn using seeding from regional Stage 1 performance. Winners from Stage 1 were each drawn into separate groups, as were the Stage 1 runners-up. Then, all other qualifiers were drawn into groups as one seeding pool, while ensuring that no two teams from the same region were drawn into the same group.

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Winners – G2 and Paper Rex

While they’ll undoubtedly be tough opponents for each other, G2 and Paper Rex are clearly the superior sides in Group A.

Despite failing to win Masters Bangkok and then dropping out early in Toronto, G2 have still arguably been the most consistent of the world’s top sides so far this year and will be one of the favourites to win the EWC.

When they qualified, few would expect Paper Rex to go to Riyadh and compete for the title, but their stunning run to win Masters Toronto — their first global trophy at their 11th attempt — has shown that they are an elite side.

The two should have little difficulty qualifying ahead of BLG and Karmine Corp. BLG have been serviceable in China, but failed to impress in Toronto, while KC have not yet found their stride this year.

Losers – Sentinels

Sentinels have been a top side in the Americas and would’ve almost certainly won a title this year were it not for G2’s extraordinary form. While they’re the strongest side in their group on paper, no opponents can be considered free wins and all could prove to be tripping hazards.

XLG’s VCT China victory can’t be ignored. Though the region is generally considered the weakest, its sides have proven to be capable to competing at global events, shown best by EDG’s Champs win last year and, more recently, Wolves’ fairytale run in Toronto. However, XLG’s own shocking performance in Toronto will give Sentinels plenty of confidence ahead of any potential clash.

Elsewhere, BBL have shown themselves a capable side in EMEA, only beaten in Stage 1 by eventual Masters Toronto attendees Team Liquid and Team Heretics. Their win over TL to qualify for the Esports World Cup puts them in good standing to compete. For DRX, though they struggled in Stage 1, their Kickoff win and Masters Bangkok second-place show that they’ve got the ability to compete at the highest level when they get it together.

Winners – Team Heretics

Whlie Heretics’ Stage 1 final collapse and subsequent 0-2 record at Masters Toronto are huge causes for concern, their group draw at the EWC has been kind and they’ll be confident of moving on to the bracket stage if they can get back on track during their break. Whatsmore, both of the teams that got the best of them in Toronto ended up amongst the top three, continuing a strange patten for Los Niños on the global stage.

RRQ could be a very difficult opponent, shown best by their Pacific Stage 1 final win over Gen.G. But they live and die by the performance of star Duelist Jemkin. And in Toronto, when Jemkin wasn’t firing, they were dreadful.

The third seeds, NRG and Titan Esports Club, have both had forgettable seasons so far. Both showed improvement to qualify for the Esports World Club, but won’t cause Heretics much concern.

Losers – all of Group D, to be honest

If one group is to be labelled ‘the Group of Death’, then it’s clearly Group D. D for Death.

Fnatic will be the favourites. Not only did they finally get back to top form regionally with their EMEA Stage 1 win, in which they twice humiliated the then-in-form Team Heretics, but their second-place finish at Masters Toronto showed that they’re, once again, one of the world’s best teams.

As for Gen.G, their hot and cold form at Toronto will give some hope to Group D opponents. But when they’re got, they’re very hot. There’s an argument that their Toronto wins against PRX and FNC actually showed the highest level of VALORANT seen at the tournament. They’ve got it in them to put up world-class performances.

EDG didn’t even make it to Toronto and have to go through qualifiers to reach the Esports World Cup, but they still hold much of the roster that won VALORANT Champions last year and name value alone makes them a worrying prospect for potential opponents in Riyadh.

100 Thieves are easily considered the worst of the four sides in the group having struggled to find form in VCT Americas in either Kickoff or Stage 1. They’ll be underdogs against any of their Group D colleagues.