Prominent Dota 2 caster Alexey “Lex” Filippov has shared his initial impressions of the Riyadh Masters 2025 tournament, currently underway as a centerpiece of the Esports World Cup (EWC) in Saudi Arabia. Following the conclusion of the group stage, Filippov took to his Telegram channel to express a notable lack of enthusiasm regarding the event`s perceived status and the competitive level displayed thus far.
According to Lex, the tournament, despite its significant standing within the EWC calendar, “doesn`t feel like one of the main tournaments of the season” yet. He specifically points to the performance of many top-tier teams, suggesting they appear to be playing “on autopilot.” This sentiment highlights a perceived absence of the sharp intensity expected from elite squads contesting a major international title.
Filippov offered specific commentary on several teams. He described Parivision as looking “lost” and struggling to find their footing. Conversely, he noted Heroic, a team perhaps not previously considered a dark horse contender, as looking surprisingly strong, resembling a “top-6 level team.” Team Liquid received praise for maintaining a consistent, stable performance, potentially being the “only ones holding the bar.” Regarding VP (Virtus.pro), Lex offered a somber observation, indicating their struggles were significant, choosing not to elaborate further perhaps out of commiseration for their difficulties.
Beyond the in-game action, Lex also directed criticism towards the tournament`s organization itself. He remarked that the event “at times feels like a comeback to 2015,” suggesting a sense of amateurism or teething problems typically associated with earlier esports events. Despite the evident “scale,” he described the organization as “raw” with “enough flaws,” perceiving a lack of “soul” in the overall execution. This implies that the massive production and prize pool haven`t fully translated into a polished, compelling viewer or participant experience.
The Riyadh Masters 2025 Dota 2 tournament is a key event within the expansive Esports World Cup 2025, running from July 8th to 19th. Sixteen teams are competing for a $3 million prize pool. The EWC itself is a large-scale festival taking place from July 8th to August 24th across numerous disciplines with a colossal $70 million total prize fund. Despite his reservations about the group stage and organization, Lex expressed hope that the upcoming playoff bracket will see teams “speed up” and deliver the high-stakes, intense competition expected from a tournament of this magnitude.
Jasper Hawthorne