NEW DELHI: As July wrapped up in the Saudi capital, Thursday at the Esports World Cup (EWC) brought nail-biting action and decisive victories across four major titles, setting the stage for a dramatic final stretch in the race for individual championships and the coveted Club Championship.
Chess – Semi-Finals Locked After Knockout Drama
The EWC Chess Championship reached a fever pitch with four grandmasters securing their spots in Friday’s semi-finals. World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen dispatched India’s Nihal Sarin with ease, while American star Hikaru Nakamura edged past Levon Aronian in a tense battle.
On the other side of the bracket, French prodigy Alireza Firouzja outclassed Nodirbek Abdusattorov 3–1, and India’s Arjun Erigaisi stunned Ian Nepomniachtchi in a major upset. The stage is now set for two blockbuster semi-finals: Carlsen vs Nakamura and Firouzja vs Erigaisi, with $1.5 million and crucial Club Championship points up for grabs.
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang – Final Four Confirmed
The MLBB Mid-Season Cup quarterfinals delivered pure spectacle. SRG OG clawed back from the brink to topple RRQ Hoshi 3–2, fuelled by clutch plays from Innocent and Stormie. ONIC Philippines also rallied from a map deficit, overcoming Team Spirit 3–1.
Semi-final matchups will see SRG OG battle ONIC PH, while ONIC Indonesia takes on Team Liquid PH in an all-Southeast Asia clash.
Overwatch 2 – Group Stage Kicks Off
The Overwatch 2 Midseason Championship made its EWC debut, with 16 teams launching their group stage campaigns. Defending champions Crazy Raccoon started strong alongside North America’s Team Liquid and Saudi Arabia’s Team Falcons.
Local favourites Twisted Minds stumbled in an opening upset, but with a $1 million prize pool and 1,000 Club points for the champion, every match remains pivotal ahead of the playoffs.
PUBG Mobile – Grand Finals Loom
PUBG Mobile teams took a day’s pause ahead of Friday’s Grand Finals. The final 16 squads – including Team Falcons, Fire Flux, and Regnum Carya – are set to battle for $3 million and a place in EWC history.
Club Championship Race Heats Up
Team Vitality maintains the overall lead, but with points pouring in from chess, MLBB, and Overwatch, challengers like Falcons, Liquid, and Crazy Raccoon are rapidly closing the gap.
With semi-finals and finals set to unfold across multiple disciplines this weekend, the Riyadh crowd can expect a thrilling culmination to the EWC’s mid-summer spectacle.
