Overwatch esports and Overwatch tournaments are rebuilding in 2025, returning to a grass roots structure. Moreover, after the conclusion of the Overwatch League, the esport has a curious future ahead of it. In this featured discussion, we’re outlining everything one needs to know regarding Overwatch tournaments 2025.
Overwatch Tournaments in 2025 – Multiple Layers
Here’s a look at the general format for Overwatch tournaments in 2025:
The New Overwatch Champions Series
In the summer of 2023, the franchised Overwatch League closed up shop after all the franchises pulled out of this tournament structure for a number of reasons.
Regardless, Blizzard is taking this opportunity to rebuild Overwatch esports with a new tournament structure – the Overwatch Champions Series.
This new international circuit is open to the following regions:
- North America
- Europe
- Middle East
- North Africa/EMEA
- China
- Asia
Moreover, each region will enjoy their own Open Qualifiers which allows teams to prepare for the Main Event for each region. The top teams from regional Main Events earn spots at two live, in-person events are scheduled for the 2025 season – looking to be the best Overwatch betting opportunities.
Live Events and World Finals
The OWCS 2025 features three live events, including the thrilling World Finals.
Featuring the best Overwatch teams in the world, including those enrolled in the OWCS Team Partner Program, these are the best Overwatch betting opportunities all year.
Of note, the first event is Champions Clash which is heading China and being hosted in Hangzhou.
NA and EMEA – FACEIT Tournaments
For the Overwatch Champions Series, Blizzard is partnering with FACEIT to organize tournaments in NA and EMEA
From all the regions, NA and EMEA offer the most competition and OWCS Stages here involve three tournament stages:
- Swiss
- Groups
- Main Event
Only the top 16 teams compete at the Main Event, sorted out from the possible 512 spots as outlined by esports betting sites.
In addition, Blizzard is adding promotion and relegation systems to the FACEIT Leagues, which operate across multiple tiers. Accordingly, the fact that the bottom two teams lose their spots in the league should contribute to a more competitive league.
At the region tournament, a group stage followed by a double elimination tournament decides the top teams who are headed to OWCS International DreamHack.
Asia – WARA.GG and Subdivisions
Meanwhile, for Asia, the competition is being split into subdivisions of South Korea, Japan and Pacific with their own esports tournaments.
For this particular region, there will be an Asia Championship for the top teams in the subdivisions. Hosted locally in Asia, only the very best will then earn a spot at the OWCS International DreamHack.
Esports World Cup
While further details remain to be confirmed, Overwatch 2 has been confirmed as a title at the multi-million dollar esports festival in Riyadh for Summer 2025.
It’s been confirmed that only the best teams in the world as determined by the OWCS will attend the tournament.
To stay up to date, we recommend tuning into our Esports World Cup Betting guide.
The OWCS International DreamHack
To end the season, Blizzard is partnering with DreamHack and using their festivals to host two live international tournaments. Such tournaments take place in the middle and at the end of the season accordingly:
- OWCS Major – May 31st to June 2nd
- Season Finals – November 22-24th
This sees the competition heading to Europe for the first time in a while.
FACEIT League
Announced by the organizer ESL FACEIT Group, this Overwatch 2 open circuit features $170,000 in prize pool together with qualification for the Esports World Cup taking place in Riyadh later this year.
Taking place across seven-week seasons, the following regions are involved:
- North America
- EMEA
- Oceania
- South America
After playing through regional Regular Seasons, teams earn spots in the Playoffs.
Moreover, this competition involves tiers of competitors – ranging from Open Leagues to Expert Leagues to make sure that everyone has the chance to compete.
Other Overwatch Esports Tournaments
Included in the announcement for 2025, the Asia Region also involves the following tournaments:
- WDG Cup – knockout competition open to all teams in the Asia regions, in the offseason
- WDG Scholastic Tournament – collegiate competitions
For 2025, there has been no news regarding the return of the Overwatch World Cup.
