CS2 at EWC 2025 has kicked off with shocking eliminations that have left fans unable to watch their favourite teams at the tournament.
Popular Counter-Strike teams NAVI, FaZe Clan, and Team Spirit were all eliminated on day one, before fans were allowed to watch the action in-venue.
CS2 at EWC bids farewell to NAVI, FaZe Clan, and Team Spirit
NAVI’s elimination was the first major upset for the CS2 at EWC 2025 tournament. The Ukrainian team lost 1-2 in their best-of-three against 3DMAX. All three maps were incredibly close, with NAVI winning Ancient 13-10, but losing Inferno 9-13 and Nuke 11-13.
This means that the defending Esports World Cup Counter-Strike champions are no longer in the competition.
FaZe Clan were also forced to accept defeat on Day One. They lost 1-2 in their best-of-three against Aurora Gaming, cutting their time in Riyadh short. Aurora delivered a strong performance on Mirage (3-13) and Overpass (7-13), securing their spot in the competition.
Team Spirit was the most shocking early elimination in the competition. Less than a week ago, the roster took home the BLAST Bounty Fall 2025 title. The roster also won IEM Cologne 2025 at the start of August.
Disappointingly, Team Spirit lost their best-of-three to HEROIC, initially winning on Ancient 13-5, but falling to their opponents on Nuke in a bitter 3-23 defeat. They lost the series in overtime on Mirage, with the map concluding 14-16 to send them home.
Following these eliminations, Team Vitality could enjoy a clear run to the title.
Their main competition will come from TheMongolZ and MOUZ, who have also enjoyed a competitive season so far. All three are potential Esports World Cup winners on Counter-Strike betting sites.
Fans miss their teams performing at EWC 2025
Day One of CS2 at EWC was not ticketed. It is the only day of the tournament without a live audience.
Although some might think that the tournament is following a traditional CS pattern of only inviting live audiences for Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Grand Finals, there are two more games in the first “Round of 16” stage.
Therefore, only four teams were able to enjoy a live audience for their EWC 2025 debut. Meanwhile, the remaining twelve were not. Team Falcons vs G2 Esports and MOUZ vs Virtus.pro were both held on August 21st, Day Two of the tournament, the first day with an audience present.
Given that NAVI is a member of the EWCF (Esports World Cup Foundation) Club Program, the organisation’s superfans have been invited to the tournament on various occasions to represent the brand.
These superfans were not given the opportunity to support their Counter-Strike team due to the early elimination.
The CS2 at EWC’s Single Elimination format has caused fans to complain about its unforgiving nature.
Post-match, Team Spirit’s Danil ‘donk’ Kryshkovets claimed that three of the five players were unwell on the day. One bad day cost the team the entire tournament, with no second chances.
Perhaps a longer 2026 CS2 EWC tournament will allow fans to watch their teams before they get sent home.
Hannah is a writer specialising in the esports, gaming, and technology sectors. Working for outlets such as Dot Esports, Esports Insider, and of course ENUK, she has developed a love for wider esports and Apex Legends, although it may never surpass her drive to passionately beat her friends in every game of Mariokart. You may have seen her at various esports and gaming events, including ESI London, EGX, Discover: Esports and many League of Legends watch parties.