After an exhilarating Week 4 weekend, Crazy Racoons has made history as the inaugural champions of the Esports World Cup: Overwatch 2. The Japanese organization, featuring an all-Korean roster, showcased their world-class dive compositions to dominate Championship Sunday, dropping only two maps throughout their undefeated run.
The Road to the Grand Finals
Championship Sunday kicked off with a highly anticipated rivalry match between Crazy Racoons and Team Falcons, the top two teams from OWCS Korea. With a storied history, Crazy Racoons, led by former Overwatch League stars Lip and Shu, had previously bested Team Falcons in the Overwatch Champions Series 2024 Major held in Dallas.
In the semifinals of EWC OW2, Crazy Racoons reaffirmed their dominance, defeating Team Falcons with a convincing 4-1 scoreline. Although Team Falcons managed to win one map, a critical error—a game-losing C9 on Eichenwald—proved too costly for them to overcome.
On the opposite side of the bracket, Zeta Division faced off against Toronto Ultra, a mixed American/Korean roster. That semifinal match was a nail-biter, going the distance and concluding on the newest Push map, Runasapi. After an intense clash between Zeta Division's dive composition and Ultra's poke strategy, it was Sugarfree’s exceptional Tracer plays that ultimately secured Toronto Ultra’s spot in the Grand Finals.
The Grand Finals: Crazy Racoons vs. Toronto Ultra
The Grand Finals saw Crazy Racoons, the world’s top-rated team, square off against the up-and-coming Toronto Ultra, led by North America’s best player, Sugarfree. Unfortunately for Ultra, Crazy Racoons exhibited sheer dominance throughout the match, leveraging their outstanding dive compositions to control the map and outperform Ultra in team fights.
The final score was 4-1, with Crazy Racoons outclassing Ultra on multiple fronts, particularly in the backline. CH0R0NG and Shu ensured that their teammates remained protected, allowing for relentless pressure on Toronto Ultra.
Despite Ultra's efforts, including an impressive early lead on map 4 thanks to Sugarfree’s unexpected Sombra pick and a clutch cross-map overtime comeback, they could not close the gap. Crazy Racoons ultimately secured their place in history, wrapping up their undefeated EWC OW2 run and becoming the first team to claim the coveted EWC OW2 World Cup Trophy.
EWC OW2 MVP and Earnings
Crazy Racoons not only walked away with the top prize of $400,000 but also took home the inaugural EWC OW2 trophy. Toronto Ultra earned $160,000 for their second-place finish.
The event MVP was Crazy Racoons' flex support, Shu, who played a crucial role throughout the tournament and was particularly impactful during the Grand Finals. He earned the MVP title along with a $50,000 prize. In a post-match interview, Shu promised to treat his teammates to a nice meal with his winnings.
What’s Next for Overwatch 2?
Looking ahead, all teams from the EWC OW2 competition will focus on the upcoming OWCS 2024 Finals in Stockholm, scheduled for November 22-24. The action will resume soon, with OWCS matches—including Korea Stage 2, EMEA Stage 3, and North America Stage 3—kicking off on August 9th.
As Crazy Racoons celebrate their remarkable victory, the Overwatch 2 competitive scene remains as exciting as ever!