Esports World Cup: 12 Teams Qualify for Riyadh Masters Playoffs

Dota 2

July 14, 2024

Sophie McCarthy

There’s really one word that can sum up the EWC Dota 2 tournament so far: unpredictable. The last couple of days have seen some truly astonishing Dota and some very unexpected results. Now, we’re on the home stretch and 12 teams have qualified for the Riyadh Masters playoffs. They’ll be fighting it out for the biggest EWC prize pool from July 16th – 21st.

Who qualified for Riyadh Masters playoffs?

Group A

Credit: Esports World Cup

Team Falcons, Team Spirit, Gaimin Gladiators, OG, Aurora and LGD Gaming all qualified to the Riyadh Masters playoffs from Group A.

Let’s start with group A, the group of death. With multiple TI winners facing off in this group, I thought it was going to be pretty cut and dry. And while Team Falcons did end up topping the group, they spent 2 days waaay down at the bottom of the group after an unprecedented 4 game loss streak.

It’s also that time of year where Team Spirit defrost in preparation for The International. So while it’s not surprising to see them in 2nd place, it’s definitely worth remembering that they only won one series 2-0 and every other was a draw.

HEROIC were off to an amazing start early on. They topped their group in the play-in stage and some were definitely hoping for an underdog story. But unfortunately, when facing the best Dota 2 teams in the world, they fell 5-9 and have been eliminated.

Group B

Credit: Esports World Cup

Tundra Esports, Entity, Team Liquid, WBG.XG, PSG.Quest and BetBoom Team qualified from Group B.

Group B has been pretty much exactly what we expected. While the games have been fiercely competitive as teams come to terms with the new Dota facets, I’m extremely unsurprised to see TI winners Tundra come out on top.

The only slight upset here is that BetBoom Team are going to have to make a lower bracket run in the Riyadh Masters playoffs. After coming so close to winning ESL One Birmingham and DreamLeague season 22 (losing out both times to Team Falcons), I thought there was going to be a bit of a Team Liquid 2023-esque run.

A lot of fans were hoping to see beastcoast come in and knock Europe off their throne but it wasn’t to be. They, along with MOUZ, have had their Esports World Cup key crushed and have been eliminated.