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The Esports World Cup 2025 has reached its final week in Riyadh, and fans around the world are excited to see how it all ends. From shocking upsets to champions defending their titles, this year’s tournament has been full of unforgettable matches. Now, as the action builds up, here are some of the players you should keep an eye on in the last and most important week.
Wang “N9” Hao: BaiSha Gaming (CROSSFIRE)
N9 has been part of BaiSha Gaming since 2020 and is already known as one of the best CROSSFIRE players in the world. He has collected ten major tournament wins in his career, four of them with BaiSha. His strong leadership helped his team qualify for the Esports World Cup 2025 after winning the Asian Champions League. With so much experience and success, N9 will be one of the biggest threats in Riyadh.
Zhang “ZY” Ye: AG.AL (CROSSFIRE)
ZY is a rare example of loyalty in esports. He has stayed with AG.AL since 2017, proving his worth again and again. Between 2021 and 2023, he led his team to three tournament victories. In 2025, he guided AG.AL to a top-four finish in the Asian Super League, securing their place in the EWC 25. For the first time, he now steps onto the CROSSFIRE stage in Riyadh, and fans are eager to see if he can make history.
Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut: Team Vitality (Counter-Strike 2)
ZywOo is one of the biggest names in Counter-Strike. Since his debut in 2018, he has built a legendary career, including being ranked the best player in the world three times by HLTV. He also has two BLAST.tv Major titles, an ESL Grand Slam trophy, and a record 27 MVP awards. In 2025 alone, ZywOo has already collected seven big wins. Last year, he was knocked out early in Riyadh, but this year he is determined to fight for the gold.
Wang “Mercury” Jingxiang: TYLOO (Counter-Strike 2)
Mercury is the captain of TYLOO, a team that has been leading the Counter-Strike scene in China for years. In 2025, TYLOO earned their place at the World Cup by beating Lynn Vision Gaming in the Asian Champions League. For Mercury, this is his first time on the EWC stage in Riyadh, as he missed out last year. While he has not yet won a major title, his leadership and determination could make this his breakout moment.
Saul Leonardo “MenaRD” Mena II: Weibo Gaming (Street Fighter 6)
MenaRD is a superstar in the world of Street Fighter. His career took off after his win at CEO 2023, and since then, he has won multiple championships, including three EVO titles and two Capcom Cups. In 2025, he made history by becoming the first player to win both EVO Japan and EVO in the same season. At the Esports World Cup, however, he faces one of the toughest groups, which includes legends like Momochi and Kawano. If he can survive this group of death, his chances of lifting the trophy are high.
Victor “Punk” Woodley: FlyQuest (Street Fighter 6)
Punk is one of the most consistent and successful players in Street Fighter. His long list of titles includes EVO 2024, where he became the first American player in 22 years to win the event with Street Fighter as a main game. At EWC 25, Punk’s group is just as tough as MenaRD’s, featuring defending champion Xiaohai and Capcom Cup 2025 winner Kakeru Watanabe. His experience and skill, however, make him one of the top favorites.
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