EWC has announced the groups for its 2025 Valorant tournament, with one group especially catching the eye of the general public. With EWC drawing sixteen of the world’s best over four regions, the competition was always going to be fierce, but it appears Group D is particularly challenging.
The group, which many commenters are calling “The Group of Death”, sees Fnatic drawn against Gen.G, EDward Gaming and 100 Thieves. A huge test of strength for UK IGL, Jake ‘Boaster’ Howlett, if he wants to lead his team to another Grand Final, he will have to do it in the hardest way possible.
The group represents the winners of the three tiers of Valorant tier one trophies. Fnatic, regional champions in EMEA, Gen.G international champions at the Shanghai Masters, and EDward Gaming, the Valorant Champions 2024 winners.
100 Thieves are also there…
Group A also appears to be extremely strong, with Toronto Masters champions, Paper Rex, facing up against Americas Stage 1 champions, G2, and China Stage 1 runners-up, Bilibili Gaming. Another tough draw for an EMEA team, with Karmine Corp being the final team to qualify for the event from EU.
The event begins July 10th, with the full week-by-week breakdown of EWC events visible on our handy guide.
Will Fnatic be ready for another gauntlet?
Fnatic had to run the gauntlet in Toronto, as they fell to EWC Group D rivals, Gen.G, 2-1 in their opening playoff match before winning four consecutive lower bracket contests to make it to the Grand Final, losing 3-1 to Paper Rex.
For Fnatic, there may be a question of emotional fatigue coming into EWC. Their Toronto Masters run, always teetering on the edge of elimination, was hard-fought at every moment. With Boaster describing himself as “exhausted” following the competition, will Fnatic be able to show their best at EWC?
Looking for odds for EWC 2025? Our Esports Betting Sites will give you the odds, as well as free joining bonuses. Check it out.
Fnatic most-watched team at the Valorant Toronto Masters
According to viewership aggregator, Esports Charts, Fnatic’s lower bracket run at the Valorant Toronto Masters 2025 made them the most-matched team of the event. Esports Charts claims that Fnatic’s games garnered approximately 13.8m hours watched at the event.
While a lower bracket run means Fnatic played the maximum possible amount of matches, Fnatic did not play in the Group Stage as Stage 1 EMEA champions; therefore, the figure still reflects the strong level of support that the British-headquartered team.
Darragh Harbinson is an esports writer specialising in Counter-Strike. He has written for Esports News UK, Esports Insider, UKCSGO, Dexerto, and Rush B Media.
