The OWCS (Overwatch Champions Series) is set to commence its EMEA and North American Stage 1 events on January 31st with eight teams in each league vying to qualify for Champions Clash.
OWCS Stage 1 2025 consists of a mixture of teams that have entered through open qualification and members of Overwatch 2’s partner programme. OWCS’s leagues in China and Asia have yet to complete their qualifiers.
OWCS Stage 1 2025 EMEA teams
As members of the OWCS partner programme, Twisted Minds and Virtus.pro are returning after debuting in 2024. For the 2025 season, multinational esports organisation Gen.G has become the third partner team for the EMEA region.
Joining the three partner teams are The Ultimates, Sakura Esports, Team Peps, Al Qadsiah, and Team Vision.
The five teams competed in the OWCS Stage 1 open qualifiers and earned their place by finishing the competition in the top five places.
OWCS Stage 1 2025 North America teams
Team Liquid is set to make its debut in the OWCS this year thanks to its participation in the partner programme. The last time the organisation competed in Overwatch esports was in 2017.
The upcoming season will also be Spacestation Gaming’s debut in the North American region after spending 2024 competing in EMEA. The team achieved victory in Stage 2 and Stage 4 of last year’s competition.
Joining the region for the upcoming season are Timeless, Avidity, Rad Esports, NTMR, Shikigami, and Amplify.
The teams placed in the top six during the North American qualifiers to secure their place in the regular season.
OWCS Stage 1 2025 Format
The regular season of the OWCS in 2025 involves a round-robin format with all matches being first to three.
The top six teams from the regular season advance to the regional playoffs where a double-elimination bracket is formed.
All matches apart from the Grand Finals use the first to three format while the Grand Finals will see the first team to reach four claiming victory.
The OWCS Stage 1 2025 playoffs take place from March 1st to 9th, 2025.
The top two playoff teams qualify for the Champions Clash while the top six all secure places in Stage 2. Teams that place 7th and 8th will qualify for the Stage 1 relegation tournament taking place on April 13th.
