The Esports World Cup (EWC) recently crowned its first VALORANT champion, and what a spectacle it was. The grand final on Sunday, July 13, 2025, saw two teams from the EMEA region, FNATIC and Team Heretics, battle it out. This match quickly became more than just a game. It turned into a high-stakes fight for pride and history.
Both teams carried a heavy burden. They wanted to shake off a reputation for finishing second in major tournaments. FNATIC, also known as FNC, had already reached a big final in 2025, losing the Masters Toronto to Paper Rex. Team Heretics, or TH, was playing in its third international final since 2024, having finished as runner-up in their previous two attempts. Everyone wondered if either team could finally claim the top spot.
The best-of-five series started strong for FNATIC. They quickly grabbed a 2-0 lead, putting them just one win away from lifting the trophy. It seemed their moment had finally arrived. The curse of second place was about to be broken for them.
However, Team Heretics had other plans. Despite their own history of falling short, they found a hidden strength. They dug deep and managed to win the next two games, tying the score at 2-2. The crowd held its breath. The series would now go to a decisive fifth map.
In that final, winner-take-all game, Team Heretics completed an amazing comeback. They snatched the victory from FNATIC, becoming the first VALORANT champions of the Esports World Cup. This massive win earned them $500,000. More importantly, they wrote their name into the game’s history books, proving that sometimes, persistence truly pays off. They finally broke their runner-up streak.
🏆 WE ARE YOUR ESPORTS WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS 🏆
After 6 finals, the curse is finally over, trophy is ours.
We couldn’t be prouder of Los Niños. Thank you for never giving up 🤍#VamosHeretics | #EWC2025 pic.twitter.com/hV1l6zIUlO
— Heretics Valorant (@HereticsVal) July 13, 2025