Thunderpick World Championship 2025 announces opening matchups + broadcast talent

Darragh Harbinson, Senior Editor

Last Updated: 09/10/2025

NaVi, Furia, Aurora, and The MongolZ will be the top 10 representatives at Thunderpick World Championship 2025, and their opening matchups have been set.

As the remaining four spots were decided by closed qualifiers, the other four attending teams are a mix of established Tier 1 rosters and hopeful Tier 2 competitors.

Thunderpick Qualifiers hope to upset Tier 1 mainstays

The familiar faces of OG’s young roster will attend, as will Brazil’s Imperial and the South American mix of 9z.

The event is rounded up by relative minnows, Team Venom.

While the Polish roster is relatively low in the VRS rankings, they defeated NIP and Nemiga to qualify, so they should not be underestimated.

Team Venom, built from the Rebels Gaming roster, which was let go by David De Gea’s organisation, includes CS veteran Paweł “innocent” Mocek, whose esports career stretches back all the way to Counter-Strike 1.6.

Thunderpick World Championship 2025 Round 1 matchups set

Dates: October 14-19

Prize pool: $850,000 (Club Share: $510,000)

Format: Two groups of four (GSL). Playoffs: Four teams (single elimination) + Third/Fourth place decider match

The opening match-ups for October 14 are:

9:30 (BST): Furia vs OG
12:30: The MongolZ vs 9Z
15:00: Natus Vincere vs Imperial
19:00: Aurora vs Team Venom

Furia, OG, The MongolZ and 9Z make up Group A.

Aurora, NaVi, Imperial, and Team Venom make up Group B.

Ultimately, the big dogs will be hoping to avoid a bloody nose before the playoffs, but GSL guarantees strong teams meeting each other in the group unless there are upsets.

While Thunderpick may market their World Championship, the ultimate prize for the rosters involved will likely be confidence and form before the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 begins in November/December.

British talent to feature at Thunderpick

Thunderpick’s talent is an ambitious group featuring some of Counter-Strike’s most well-known and established talent.

Amongst them, the British duo of Hugo Byron and Harry ‘JustHarry’ Russel, as well as Alex ‘Machine’ Richardson on the mic alongside long-term Aussie partner in crime Chad ‘Spunj’ Burchill.

Joining established Tier 1 talent of Janko ‘YNk’ Paunović and Sudhen ‘Bleh’ Wahengbam on the desk is Travis ‘Trav’ Landaw Mott.

The British caster and analyst shared his excitement at the chance, stating, “Important opportunity for me. Grateful to be working alongside some of the best in the business.”

Former Endpoint coach, Allan ‘Allan’ Hender, also returns to action on the desk alongside Trav.

Tres ‘stunna’ Saranthus and Sam ‘Tech Girl’ Wright will take on hosting duties with Australia’s Geordie ‘Mac’ McAleer stage hosting and interviewing.

Darragh Harbinson, Senior Editor

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.

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