HEROIC scored an upset of their opening match on the Esports World Cup 2025, knocking Spirit out of the event with a 2-1 victory.
A significant shock unfolded within the EWC 2025 opener as HEROIC defeated the favored Spirit to advance to the quarterfinals. After struggling a heavy loss on Historic, HEROIC bounced again with a flawless exhibiting on Nuke to degree the collection. The decider on Mirage went into extra time, the place HEROIC in the end got here out on high.
This event marks the ultimate dance for Belarusian participant Andrey “tN1R” Tatarinovich in a HEROIC jersey, because the group beforehand introduced his switch to a different group. Mockingly, sources report that tN1R’s subsequent vacation spot will likely be Spirit.
Carrying his group on Mirage, tN1R delivered a clutch efficiency in opposition to his soon-to-be teammates, changing into the important thing think about HEROIC’s victory.
However this triumph wasn’t solely tN1R’s story. Swedish participant Simon “yxngstxr” Boije performed a decisive function on Nuke with two essential 1v2 clutches and a 2.09 ranking, dragging his group again into the collection. In the meantime, younger expertise Alimzhan “Alkaren” Bitimbai, on mortgage from Spirit Academy for his first main occasion, supplied important contributions as nicely.
Spirit had entered the second half of 2025 in stellar kind, successful each IEM Cologne and BLAST Bounty Season 2. With the addition of Ivan “zweih” Gogin, the group constructed up a 10-match win streak, however that momentum got here to an finish in opposition to HEROIC.
Though Spirit had beforehand misplaced to top-tier squads like Vitality and MOUZ earlier within the season, they’d prevented upsets in opposition to lower-ranked groups — till now. This defeat stands as their first surprising lack of 2025.
HEROIC to Face Aurora within the Quarterfinals
HEROIC’s journey isn’t over but. Within the quarterfinals, they may face Aurora — who defeated FaZe of their collection. The matchup is scheduled for Friday at 20:15.
