By Ahmed Amin
Saudi Arabia’s Team Falcons have claimed the OWCS Midseason Championship title at the Esports World Cup 2025, marking a historic victory as the first team to ever win the newly introduced Jafonso Award — an accolade given to champions who qualified through the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ).
The award is named after João “Jafonso” Vasconcelos, who in 2024 became the first and, until now, only player to win an EWC tournament after entering via the LCQ. It honors underdog teams that arrive in Riyadh without a guaranteed spot, only to triumph against the odds.
Their Victory
The reigning Overwatch 2 world champions, Team Falcons’ Korean roster, arrived with something to prove. After narrowly missing direct qualification through both Champions Clash and OWCS Korea Stage 2, they were forced into the LCQ — a tough route made even more challenging with elite contenders like ZETA DIVISION and Cold Metal in the mix.
Despite the pressure, Team Falcons lived up to their reputation, dominating the LCQ to earn their spot in the main event. Once in the tournament, they breezed through the group stage, then defeated Geekay Esports and T1 in the playoffs to reach the grand final. There, they swept fellow Middle East powerhouse Al-Qadsiah Esports 4-0 in a commanding display to secure the title.
“Before this tournament, I had to remind myself I will bring this team back to the top,” said Kim “Proper” Dong-hyun, who was awarded the Sony MVP for his outstanding performance throughout the competition. “I think I proved myself. I am really grateful for it.”
The victory also earned Team Falcons 1,000 Club Championship points, pushing their total to 3,500 and reclaiming their position at the top of the Club Championship leaderboard. Now eligible to win the overall Club Championship at the end of the Esports World Cup, Team Falcons have taken a major step toward defending their crown — and the win lifts a significant weight off their shoulders.
The Esports World Cup 2025 continues with Week Five action through August 10, featuring finals across Call of Duty: Warzone, EA SPORTS FC 25, and Rainbow 6 Siege X.
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