Dota 2 Esports World Cup 2025: Format, Schedule, Prize Pool & Qualifiers Revealed

Sagar Mankar
May 21
2 min read

EWC Foundation has unveiled the full competitive format for Dota 2 at the Esports World Cup 2025.

Set to take place from July 8 to July 19, 2025, the tournament will feature 16 of the world’s best Dota 2 teams battling it out for a $3 million prize pool, as well as in parallel club competitions.

Tournament Format & Schedule

The 16 competing teams will first be divided into four groups of four. Each group will play in a round-robin format. Here’s how progression will work:

Top team in each group: Advances directly to the playoffs
Remaining teams: Seeded into the Gauntlet Bracket based on group stage results

Gauntlet Bracket

Includes 12 teams
Partially populated Single Elimination
4th vs 3rd from groups, winner vs 2nd
Only the top 4 teams from this bracket will move on to the playoffs

Playoffs (Final Stage)

A total of 8 teams
Played in a single-elimination bracket
Culminates in the Esports World Cup 2025 champion being crowned

Prize Pool and MVP Bonus

Main Dota 2 prize pool: $3,000,000
MVP Award: $10,000 bonus

And it doesn’t stop there—teams also have a shot at the EWC 2025 Club Championship, which offers a staggering $7 million to the winning organization.

Qualifier Breakdown

To determine the full roster of 16 competitors, the EWC 2025 will host Online, Open, and Closed Qualifiers throughout June:

Key Qualifier Dates

Asian Champions League (ACL): China – May 13th - May 16th - Xtreme Gaming Qualifies
EWC Online Qualifier: North America – June 5th - June 6th
EWC Online Qualifier: Western Europe – June 5th - June 7th
EWC Online Qualifier: Southeast Asia – June 8th - June 10th
EWC Online Qualifier: Middle East Southwest Asia – June 8th - June 10th
EWC Online Qualifier: South America – June 11th - June 13th
EWC Online Qualifier: Eastern Europe – June 11th - June 13th

Direct Invites

Defending champions: Gaimin Gladiators
The top 8 teams in the EPT Tour Ranking as of June 1, 2025, will receive direct invites

Where to Watch

All qualifiers and the main event will be broadcast online. Fans can expect full coverage, highlights, and exclusive content from major esports platforms and official EWC channels.