[Today’s EWC] CROSSFIRE Day 2 – Al Qadsiah and Three Other Teams Advan… 2025-08-21

■ Al Qadsiah, Qing Jiu, Evolution Power, and AG.AL Secure Early Quarterfinal Spots

■ Remaining Four Quarterfinal Slots to Be Decided in Final Group Matches on the 21st

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Smilegate announced on Thursday, the 21st, that following the upperand lower’ bracketon Day 2 of the CROSSFIRE tournament at the “Esports World Cup 2025” (EWC), currently underway in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, four teams have secured their spots in the quarterfinals.

▶Upper Bracket: Clashes of Pride as Top Contenders Reach the Quarterfinals!

■ Group A: Al Qadsiah 2–0 Gaimin Gladiators

Al Qadsiah dominated the opening set on the Ankara map as Thales “AKT” Motta delivered an incredible 18-kill, 3-death performance to secure a flawless 10–0 “perfect game.” In the second set, Gaimin Gladiators’ sniper Abdulkadir “FLEXX” Yegin stood tall, forcing overtime. However, Al Qadsiah edged out the golden round to become the first team of the day to book a ticket to the quarterfinals.

■ Group B: Qing Jiu 2–0 Team Liquid

In a battle of East vs. West powerhouses, China’s Qing Jiu swept Team Liquid 2–0 to advance. Star player Zhao “KOI” Yang consistently struck first in each round to control the tempo, while Lin “XJ” Zhijie provided key support to seal their quarterfinal berth.

■ Group C: Evolution Power 2–1 Baisha Gaming

The day’s biggest showdown between rivals Evolution Power and Baisha Gaming went down to the wire. Baisha took the first set 10–5 behind sharp sniping from Lin “LYE” Ye, but Evolution Power responded with a 10–5 win in the second. The decider ended 12–12 after regulation, pushing the match into a golden round where team leader Zhao “Mino” Lumin landed the decisive shot to clinch victory.

■ Group D: AG.AL 2–1 Team Stallion

The clash between veteran powerhouse AG.AL and the ambitious Team Stallion produced dramatic swings across sets. Team Stallion stunned with a 10–3 win in the opener led by RJ “JJhae” Bacus. But AG.AL hit back just as hard, leveling the series with their own 10–3 win. On the final Compound map, AG.AL’s experience shone through as they executed their strategies with precision, closing 10–5 to secure the last quarterfinal ticket of the day.

▶Lower Bracket: Fierce Battles for a Last Shot at the Quarterfinals!

■ Group A: King Zero 2–1 Twisted Minds

King Zero, rated as the stronger side, took the first set 10–7 with clutch plays from Cao “YF” Yuanfeng and Yan “9u” Xuchang. Twisted Minds leveled the score in the second set thanks to Tran Truong Bao Tin “DATCHIP.” In the decider, King Zero prevailed 10–4 with support from Yan Xuchang and Nong “XN” Xiu, moving on to the final group match.

■ Group B: ROC 2–0 EVOS

Western powerhouse ROC delivered a steady performance to eliminate EVOS. ROC won the first set 10–5 with balanced contributions from all players. In the second, Cristian “Xetra” Navarro of EVOS caused trouble with his sniping, but ROC regrouped in overtime and secured four straight rounds to finish 13–10 and stay alive.

■ Group C: Team Falcon 2–0 Inner Circle

Team Falcon, who shocked the world last year by toppling Chinese teams on the international stage, showed composure once again. With 10–4 and 10–2 wins, Falcon avoided elimination and earned another shot at reaching the quarterfinals.

■ Group D: Natus Vincere 2–1 Virtus.pro

The day’s final showdown between Natus Vincere (Na’Vi) and Virtus.pro was a nail-biter. Virtus.pro struck first with a 10–5 victory in the opener thanks to Nguyen Minh Hieu “TOM.” Facing elimination, Na’Vi roared back with a 10–2 win in the second, fueled by Patrick “GDSZ” Goldszal and Juan “juan1” Gomez. In the decider, tied 7–7 late, Na’Vi delivered clutch plays to close out 10–7 and advance to the group finals.

The CROSSFIRE competition at EWC 2025 will conclude group stages by the 21st, followed by the quarterfinals on the 22nd, and the semifinals and grand final on the 23rd to determine the ultimate champion. All matches are being broadcast live worldwide in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Portuguese across YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, TikTok, Douyu, and Huya.