As the inaugural Esports World Cup’s historical beginnings continue, with the best in the world competing in some of the largest esports titles in 2024; The Gaimin Gladiators esports collective continues to battle, hoping to acquire the necessary Esports World Cup Club points in hopes of becoming the first ever Club Champions. With the various esports titles going at it in the months long Esports tournament collective, the Gaimin Gladiators Overwatch 2 roster took the stage in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Becoming one of the largest titles in its early inception; Overwatch - the fast paced hero shooter developed by Blizzard Entertainment took its time to shine in Riyadh, with the best competing in Overwatch’s predecessor; Overwatch 2. Gaimin Gladiators’ a new face in the competitive Overwatch scene and with recent acquisition of Team Peps, consisting of Supports FDGod, LV1Crook, and Yoham, DPS’ in Naga and xzodyal, and tank player Tred; looked poised after a successful 3rd placing and Esports World Cup qualification in the FACEIT League Season 1 - EMEA Master: Road to EWC. 

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The 16 best Overwatch 2 teams took the stage, looking to battle it out in the initial group stage matches, with the newly slated Gaimin Gladiators positioned in Group A; competing against the highly touted Crazy Raccoons, North America’s #1 ranked Toronto Ultra, and the home country roster of ROC Esports.

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Slated in one of the strongest groups, the Gaimin Gladiators looked to make some upsets; unfortunately for them Crazy Raccoons and Toronto Ultra proved why both rosters are touted as the best in the world. Losing 3-1 and 3-0 respectively in the opening group stage matches, the roster stayed poised, locking up the groups third place, and qualification to Round 1 playoffs. Though their early group losses may have dropped moral; the Gladiators locked in defeating the Saudi Arabian ROC Esports roster 3-0 in clean fashion, moving onto the single elimination playoff stage, and an uphill battle with another Overwatch powerhouse in Spacestation Gaming.

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With the group stages behind them, the single elimination best of seven series provided a grueling series for only the best to shine. Unfortunately for Gaimin Gladiators; Spacestation Gaming was their untimely demise. After highly competitive back and forth games including tight close defeats including a 2-1 Lijiang Tower Control, 4-3 Circuit Royal Escort, and 3-2 Midtown Hybrid matches, the Gaimin Gladiators Overwatch 2 Esports World Cup lives came to an end, finishing the event with a respectable 9th-12th placement.  

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The Gaimin Gladiators Overwatch 2 roster showed poise and contention against some of the tournament's best. We look forward to seeing their progression throughout all their future competitive events to come, and want to congratulate Crazy Raccoons in a historic victory in becoming the first ever Esports World Cup Overwatch 2 champions.

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The Esports World Cup is not finished just yet, so stay locked into all our competitive rosters, looking to set their path to ultimate glory.

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For more information on the Gaimin Gladiators organization, all our professional esports teams and Esports World Cup summaries, stay tuned here for recaps, blogs and content in all our esports ventures. Thank you for reading.  #AgainstAllOdds  

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