In a spectacular display of resilience and skill, Team Heretics were crowned champions of the 2025 VALORANT Esports World Cup after a thrilling five-map grand final against Fnatic. The showdown took place on July 14, wrapping up around 11:00 PM IST, delivering some of the most intense Valorant action of the year.
A Grand Final for the Ages: Map-by-Map Highlights
The best-of-five series kicked off with Fnatic looking unstoppable. They dominated the first two maps — Lotus and Sunset — with overwhelming performances. Lotus saw Fnatic sprint to an 8-4 halftime lead, then lock Heretics out entirely in the second half to close it 13-4. Sunset was even more brutal, with Fnatic dismantling Heretics 13-2, ending the first half 11-1 and putting themselves on the brink of the title.
With the series at 2-0, few would have predicted what came next. On Icebox, Heretics finally found their footing. They went into halftime narrowly ahead 7-5, and despite Fnatic’s push, held on to take the map 13-11. The momentum carried over to Haven, where despite trailing 9-3 at the half, Heretics staged a remarkable comeback. They won 10 of the last 11 rounds to claim the map 13-10, leveling the series at 2-2.
It all came down to Ascent, where Heretics maintained their newfound composure. They took an 8-4 lead at halftime, then withstood a late Fnatic rally to close out the decider 13-10, completing an incredible reverse sweep and securing the championship.
Wo0t Shines Brightest as Finals MVP
Turkish sensation Wo0t was the star of the show for Heretics. Throughout the grand final, he produced crucial plays, especially during the team’s comeback on Icebox and Haven. Wo0t ended the series with an impressive 70/74/27 KDA and 186 ACS, numbers that highlighted his consistency under pressure.
His outstanding performances didn’t just help secure the title for Heretics; they also earned him the EWC VALORANT MVP award, along with a $10,000 prize.
Fnatic, Gen.G and Paper Rex Round Out Top Four
For Fnatic, it was a heartbreaking loss. After dominating the early maps, they appeared set to lift the trophy, only to watch it slip away. Still, their run earned them $230,000 as runners-up.
Gen.G Esports clinched third place after defeating Paper Rex in a clean 2-0 sweep, taking home $130,000, while Paper Rex settled for fourth with $70,000 in prize money.
This tournament once again highlighted Fnatic’s lingering challenge: reclaiming their global dominance reminiscent of their 2023 double-title run. Despite two strong international campaigns in recent months, they’ll need to regroup quickly with VALORANT Champions looming later this year.
A Historic Victory for Heretics and European VALORANT
This win marks Team Heretics’ first international trophy, a milestone that caps off months of growth and perseverance after close finishes in prior tournaments. Their triumph also reinforces Europe’s standing as a powerhouse in VALORANT esports, with the region consistently delivering teams that can go toe-to-toe with the world’s best.
With this epic storyline now complete, all eyes will turn to the next global showdown, where Heretics will aim to defend their new crown, and Fnatic will look to finally break their run of near misses.