AxTMG Misses Grand Finals Spot at PUBG Mobile World Cup 2025
- Sagar Mankar
- Jul 31
- 3 min read
India’s only representative at the PUBG Mobile World Cup (PMWC) 2025, Team AxTMG, has been eliminated during the Survival Stage, ending the nation’s campaign just before the Grand Finals.
The two-day Survival Stage, held from July 29 to 30 at the Qiddiya Esports Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, saw 16 teams battle it out for the final 8 spots in the Grand Finals.
Despite entering with high hopes and fan support, AxTMG finished 14th overall with just 37 points, falling short of the required top-8 finish to advance.
A Close But Unfulfilled Campaign
AxTMG initially qualified for PMWC 2025 after winning the BGMI Pro Series 2025, earning their place among the best in the world. However, their journey in Riyadh was anything but smooth. The team placed 15th in the Group Stage, which meant they had to fight for survival alongside 15 other teams that also missed direct qualification.
During the 12 matches of the Survival Stage — six played each day — AxTMG struggled to find momentum against seasoned international squads. The margin for error was razor-thin, and unfortunately for the Indian side, each missed opportunity compounded the pressure.
While they didn’t advance, the team walks away with their heads held high — and ₹33.75 lakhs (approx. $38,000) in prize money from both the Group and Survival stages combined.
Final Standings: Survival Stage Top 8
Here are the teams that advanced to the Grand Finals from the Survival Stage:
Horaa Esports (Nepal) – 108 pts
Fire Flux Esports – 104 pts
POWR Esports – 104 pts
Regnum Carya – 100 pts
eArena – 92 pts
NS RedForce – 92 pts
Team Falcons – 71 pts
Yangon Galacticos – 70 pts
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s 4Thrives Esports had already secured a Grand Finals slot by finishing second in the Group Stage.
Here’s the top 8 teams from the Group stage that directly seeded to the Finale:
Alter Ego (ID) - 121 pts
4Thrives Esports - 111 pts
DRX - 89 pts
Weibo Gaming - 89 pts
Alpha Gaming - 86 pts
Team Secret - 86 pts
ThunderTalk Gaming - 83 pts
IDA Esports - 83 pts
A Tough Pill to Swallow
For Indian fans, the result is undeniably disappointing. After years of battling regional restrictions and clawing back onto the international stage, AxTMG’s presence at PMWC 2025 had reignited hope for a strong showing on the world platform.
The disappointment didn’t go unnoticed among the fan base. Social media reactions ranged from heartfelt praise to critical frustration. Some praised the team for exceeding expectations, while others questioned whether Indian squads need more consistent international exposure to perform better under global pressure.
“They may be out of the tournament, but they played way beyond expectations,” said one fan.
“It’s simple — they didn’t play well. Everyone had the same device and conditions. We need to stop hyping mediocrity,” added another more critical voice.
There were also repeated calls for India to receive more representation in global PUBG Mobile tournaments like PUBG Mobile Super League (PMSL) and Global Championship (PMGC), with many arguing that a single international slot is no longer enough to reflect the region’s talent.
One of the feel-good stories of the Survival Stage came from Horaa Esports, the Nepali squad that topped the table in their debut World Cup appearance. Their rise was so impactful that even Nepal’s Prime Minister reportedly congratulated them and wished them luck for the Grand Finals — a massive moment for the country’s esports scene.
The Road Ahead
The PMWC 2025 Grand Finals will run from August 1–3, featuring 16 teams (8 from Group Stage + 8 from Survival Stage) competing in 18 matches across three days.
The format will include a “Smash Rule” on Day 3 — where a team must reach a match point threshold and win a match to be declared champions.
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