The opening day of VALORANT action at the Esports World Cup 2025 delivered plenty of drama, close calls, and standout performances. With 12 matches played across four groups, Pacific teams made a strong statement, while North American heavyweights found themselves fighting to stay alive in the lower bracket.
Group Stage Day 1 Recap
Group A:
Paper Rex kicked off their tournament with a nail-biter against Bilibili Gaming, edging them out 16-14 in overtime. Meanwhile, Karmine Corp looked unstoppable, dismantling G2 Esports 13-2. In the Winner’s Match, Paper Rex raised their level even higher, sweeping Karmine Corp 2-0 to become the first team from Group A to secure a playoff berth.
Upcoming matches in Group A:
- Bilibili Gaming vs G2 Esports (Elimination Match) – July 9, 2:30 PM IST
- Karmine Corp vs winner of the elimination match (Decider) – July 10, 2:30 PM IST
Group B:
BBL Esports and Sentinels played out a tight clash, with BBL emerging on top 14-12. DRX had a smoother outing, taking down Xi Lai Gaming 13-6. BBL Esports then stunned DRX with a clean 2-0 win in the Winner’s Match, punching their ticket to the Playoffs from Group B.
Upcoming matches in Group B:
- Sentinels vs Xi Lai Gaming (Elimination Match) – TBD
- DRX vs winner of the elimination match (Decider) – TBD
Group C:
NRG came out swinging, dominating Team Heretics 13-4 in their opener. Rex Regum Qeon (RRQ) also impressed, taking down Titan Esports Club 13-6. In the Winner’s Match, NRG continued their run by sweeping RRQ 2-0, locking in their playoff spot.
Upcoming matches in Group C:
- Team Heretics vs Titan Esports Club (Elimination Match) – July 9, 5:45 PM IST
- RRQ vs winner of the elimination match (Decider) – July 10, 5:45 PM IST
Group D:
FNATIC edged out 100 Thieves 13-11 in a tightly contested battle. Gen.G, on the other hand, cruised past Edward Gaming 13-4. When FNATIC faced Gen.G in the Winner’s Match, they put on a clinical performance, sweeping them 2-0 to advance to the Playoffs without dropping a single map.
Upcoming matches in Group D:
- 100 Thieves vs Edward Gaming (Elimination Match) – July 9, 5:45 PM IST
- Gen.G vs winner of the elimination match (Decider) – July 10, 5:45 PM IST
What’s Next
The stakes only get higher as the tournament progresses. With the elimination matches lined up today and deciders tomorrow, teams from North America and beyond will be fighting to keep their championship dreams alive. As the action heats up, all eyes will be on whether Pacific dominance continues or if the under-pressure squads from other regions can bounce back.
Stay tuned for more updates and match results as the Esports World Cup 2025 VALORANT event continues.