The MongolZ have done it, the Mongolian powerhouse has claimed the Counter-Strike 2 Esports World Cup 2025 (EWC) trophy in Riyadh, sweeping Aurora 3-0 in the grand final to secure their first-ever Big Event title.

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS OF THE ESPORTS WORLD CUP 2025!

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to the families of our players. You raised these kind and healthy young boys. Today, they are coming home to you with the EWC trophy. This victory belongs to you just as much as it… pic.twitter.com/OtJkj7jpmn

— The MongolZ (@1mongolz) August 24, 2025

It’s a milestone moment for a team that’s been knocking on the door all year. Before this, The MongolZ’s only major win was YaLLa Compass 2024, but now they’ve cemented themselves as one of CS2’s elite.

The road to the final

The EWC 2025 was a brutal sprint. Sixteen teams battled it out in a single-elimination format, packed into just five days. Every round felt like a high-stakes clash, and The MongolZ thrived under the pressure.

They started strong against GamerLegion and 3DMAX, before facing their toughest challenge yet: Team Vitality. The French side had been dominant earlier this year, famously denying The MongolZ the BLAST.tv Austin Major trophy. But this time, it was different.

Vitality managed to grab Dust II, but the Mongolian squad came alive on Nuke with a crushing 10–2 first half, eventually closing out the series and knocking their rivals out of contention.

The semifinal win felt like a statement: The MongolZ were no longer outsiders, they were favourites.

The only team to beat Vitality twice @1mongolz 🇲🇳 pic.twitter.com/2U1WQ6kh1m

— HLTV.org (@HLTVorg) August 23, 2025

Aurora’s run cut short

Aurora had their own rollercoaster journey. After a big upset over Team Falcons in the semis, the Turkish lineup arrived in the final with plenty of confidence. XANTARES and woxic delivered some huge plays on Mirage, forcing overtime, but it wasn’t enough.

The MongolZ clawed back map one before tightening the screws on Dust II, where they read MAJ3R’s calls like a book. Even Wicadia’s flashy Desert Eagle quad kill couldn’t shift the momentum.

By the time the action moved to Nuke, it was clear who the better side was. Usukhbayar “910” Banzragch put the exclamation mark on the series with a clinical 1v3 AWP clutch, while Azbayar “Senzu” Munkhbold’s Desert Eagle triple shattered Aurora’s second-half hopes. The 13-4 closer sealed the 3-0 sweep.

The MongolZ defeat Aurora 3:0 to win the Esports World Cup! pic.twitter.com/EoNWr7JM5L

— HLTV.org (@HLTVorg) August 24, 2025

Upsets and surprises

The MongolZ’s victory might have felt inevitable, but EWC 2025 was anything but predictable elsewhere.

• Vitality’s downfall – After dominating the first half of 2025, apEX’s crew fell flat. They lost to The MongolZ in the semis and then to Team Falcons in the third-place decider.
• Falcons’ inconsistency – True to form, Falcons mixed brilliance with chaos. They toppled MOUZ but crashed out against Aurora before redeeming themselves against Vitality for bronze.
• Spirit stumble early – Fresh off wins at IEM Cologne and BLAST Bounty Fall, Team Spirit looked unstoppable… until they were sent packing by HEROIC in their opener.
• NAVI’s shock exit – 3DMAX stunned NAVI with a dominant Inferno finish, handing Aleksib’s team another painful early exit.

A new era for Asia

For years, Asian Counter-Strike has struggled to break into the tier-one scene. Now, The MongolZ have delivered a moment of history, lifting a Big Event trophy on the world stage.

Their journey isn’t done either. With BLAST Open Fall 2025 kicking off later this week, the Mongolian squad will be heading into the next challenge with momentum, confidence, and a shiny new EWC title to their name.

Esports fans wanted surprises, drama, and clutch plays, and EWC 2025 delivered all of that and more. But at the end of the day, the story belongs to The MongolZ.

The post The MongolZ Dominate Aurora 3-0 to Win CS2 EWC 2025 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Street Fighter legend Zeng “Xiaohai” Zhuojun has once again proven why his name is etched into fighting game history. The Chinese veteran claimed the Street Fighter 6 title at the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh, pocketing $250,000 and securing back-to-back championships at the event. With this win, Xiaohai also handed KuaiShou Gaming their first EWC victory and pushed them higher in the Club Championship standings.

The definition of greatness!

Congratulations to the TWO TIME, BACK-TO-BACK Street Fighter 6 at EWC Champion @Xiaohai_ 🏆 pic.twitter.com/12i0PCRHlF

— Esports World Cup (@EWC_EN) August 23, 2025

Champion vs. Prodigy

The grand finals set the stage for a generational clash. On one side, the defending champion, Xiaohai, cool and composed with years of experience. On the other, 15-year-old Chilean prodigy Derek “Blaz” Blaz, whose fearless run through the brackets had fans buzzing.

Image Credit: Esports World Cup

Both players carved through world-class competition to reach this point. Blaz went unbeaten in groups and knocked out names like Hiromiki “Itabashi Zangief” Kumada, YHC-Mochi, and Shin “Leshar” Moon-sup — the latter being especially impressive given Leshar’s consistency this year. Meanwhile, Xiaohai’s path wasn’t without drama. He performed a reverse sweep over Victor “Punk” Woodley, earned sweet revenge against his FATAL FURY rival Goichi “GO1” Kishida, and even demolished AngryBird’s Akuma to secure his spot in the final.

A Nail-Biting Grand Final

The grand finals kicked off with Xiaohai running M. Bison while Blaz went with his trusty Ryu. Early on, Blaz shocked the arena by storming to a 3–0 lead, leaving many wondering if the teen was about to dethrone the champ.

But Xiaohai wasn’t done. Switching to Mai Shiranui, a nod to his legendary FATAL FURY and KOF roots, he clawed his way back into the set. Blaz adjusted too, swapping Ryu for Ken, and the scoreboard tightened. Blaz even reached match point first, but Xiaohai, known for his ice-cold composure, forced a decider.

The final game went down to the wire. Blaz had the life lead, but Xiaohai pulled off a clutch combo into Critical Art, sealing the 5–4 victory and his second straight EWC crown.

2x EWC champion Xiaohai (@Xiaohai_)! Huge respect.

Congrats to Blaz (@DerekBlaz11) for an incredible run.

What a championship!#EWC2025 #StreetFighter6 #SF6 pic.twitter.com/Qj645v6ElL

— Street Fighter Play (@SF6Play) August 23, 2025

Revenge, Comebacks, and Meta Shifts

Xiaohai’s win wasn’t just about resilience, it was about adaptability. Coming into 2025, many thought his focus on the new FATAL FURY game might have slowed his Street Fighter form. He skipped big events and only managed 5th–6th at Evo Las Vegas earlier in the year. But when it mattered most, he showed up.

Along the way, he avenged his FATAL FURY finals loss to GO1, silenced doubts about his form, and proved he could thrive under the long, high-pressure EWC format. It also didn’t hurt that the Elena update and the arrival of Sagat shook up the SF6 meta, creating a stage where Xiaohai’s mastery of multiple characters could shine.

We saw plenty of variety in the tournament:

• Sagat made appearances through pugera and Kakeru.
• Dhalsim and Kimberly showed new strength in the hands of YHC-Mochi and Matsu56.
• And of course, Xiaohai’s use of Mai felt like destiny for a player who built his name on King of Fighters.

Blaz, EndingWalker, and the Next Generation

While Xiaohai took the trophy, Blaz’s run was arguably just as inspiring. The 15-year-old proved he wasn’t a one-off wonder, defeating decorated veterans and proving he belongs on the biggest stage.

He wasn’t the only young star to shine. EndingWalker dominated his group and even swept MenaRD 5–0 in the quarterfinals, a massive statement win against an Evo champion. Both he and Blaz also made waves by sticking to gamepads rather than the leverless controllers or fight sticks most pros swear by. It’s a good reminder that in SF6, it’s not about the gear, it’s about the player.

Club Championship and What’s Next

For KuaiShou Gaming, Xiaohai’s win was more than just a trophy. His results across EWC, including his FATAL FURY runner-up finish, brought in a massive 1,750 Club Championship points. That effort landed the team 9th place overall and a tidy $700,000 from the prize pool.

Xiaohai now heads into the rest of the season qualified for Capcom Cup 12, while the SF6 competitive calendar rolls on with the Ultimate Fighting Arena 2025 in France next month.

A Historic Repeat

With his second straight EWC win, Xiaohai joins an exclusive club of back-to-back champions in Riyadh, joining the likes of ULSAN in Tekken 8. His clutch comeback against Blaz will no doubt go down as one of the most electrifying finals in fighting game history.

At the end of it all, the message is clear: Xiaohai isn’t just still here, he’s still on top.

The post Xiaohai Back-to-Back Champion at the Esports World Cup Street Fighter 6 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.