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Overwatch 2 Returns to Esports World Cup: Full Schedule & Format to the OWCS Mid-Season Championship


Crazy Raccoon, winner of Overwatch Champion Series (OWCS) Mid-Season Championship 2024
Crazy Raccoon, winner of Overwatch Champion Series (OWCS) Mid-Season Championship 2024

Overwatch 2 is making a comeback with the Overwatch Champion Series (OWCS) Mid-Season Championship, which takes center stage at the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC).


The Esports World Cup (EWC) is a massive international esports tournament held annually in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and features 25 tournaments across 7 weeks, with a staggering $70 million prize pool.


Here’s everything you need to know about this major event: its format, schedule, prize pool, and how to watch it live.


OWCS Mid-Season Championship at the 2025 EWC

Overwatch 2 joined the EWC in 2024, with the OWCS Mid-Season Championship hosted at the event. Japanese powerhouse Crazy Raccoon won the title last year, making them the team to beat in 2025.


Now, Overwatch returns to the EWC with another OWCS Mid-Season Championship, promising elite-level hero shooter action and international hype.

The OWCS Mid-Season Championship features:

  • $1 million USD total prize pool

  • $10,000 MVP prize for the tournament’s best individual player

This makes it one of the biggest Overwatch-only prize pools this year.


Format: How the Tournament Works

Qualifiers

16 teams will qualify through their respective OWCS regional circuits:

  • North America: 3 teams

  • EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa): 3 teams

  • China: 3 teams

  • Korea: 2 teams

  • Japan: 1 team

  • Pacific: 1 team

  • LATAM (via FACEIT League): 1 team

  • Last Chance Qualifier: 1 team (wildcard)

Crazy Raccoon returns as defending champs, automatically qualifying.


Group Stage

  • 4 groups of 4 teams

  • Double-elimination format

  • Matches are first-to-three (Ft3)

  • Top 2 teams from each group move on to Playoffs


Playoffs

  • 8 teams compete

  • Single-elimination bracket

  • Matches are first-to-four (Ft4)

  • Winners advance to the Grand Finals on August 1


Full Schedule for OWCS at the 2025 EWC

Qualifier Deadlines

  • June 18 – OWCS Pacific Stage 2 ends

  • June 21 – OWCS Korea, Japan, and FACEIT LATAM end

  • June 28 – OWCS China, EMEA, and North America end

  • July 17 – Last Chance Qualifiers

Main Event Dates

  • July 31 – Group Stage begins

  • August 1 – Grand Finals and closing ceremony


How to Watch the 2025 OWCS Mid-Season Championship

Fans around the world can tune in to every second of action via:

Both platforms will offer full English coverage and multi-language support for select matches.

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