The Thunderpick World Championship 2025 Closed Qualifier is rolling, and you can tell it’s got that wide-open, “don’t blink or you’ll miss it” kind of feel. Sixteen squads dropping into a brutal single-elimination bracket, and only four of them will survive to earn a ticket to the main event in Malta this October.
No second chances, no soft landings-just BO3’s with everything on the line.
Europe’s Big Names Trying to Hold Ground
When you look at the bracket of the Thunderpick World Championship 2025, the first thing that jumps out is the pile of European heavyweights. ENCE, Ninjas in Pyjamas, BIG, and OG all have enough history to carry expectations on their backs. ENCE, in particular, have looked sharp after winning their recent European Series, but qualifiers like this have a way of exposing cracks. BIG are in that same boat-talent is there, but consistency hasn’t been. NiP, meanwhile, have been patchy for months, yet somehow they always linger just long enough to matter.
Momentum Squads
It’s not all Europe, though. M80 and Legacy arrive with a bit of steam. M80 turned heads in London, knocking out big names like Na’Vi and Fnatic, and you can tell they’re not just happy to be here. Legacy, representing Brazil, didn’t lose a single map in their run through North America’s qualifier. That’s the kind of clean form you want when stepping into a minefield bracket like this one.
The Wildcards
Of course, every qualifier has its troublemakers. SAW, 9z, JiJieHao, and ECSTATIC aren’t carrying the same brand recognition as the tier-one names, but don’t let that fool you. These squads have all pulled off upsets in the past, and in a single-elim format, that’s all it takes. SAW against BIG is already being circled as one of the matches to watch-close map pool overlap, plenty of upset potential.
Players Who Could Flip the Script
- ENCE – rigoN
Brought in mid-summer and already giving ENCE the first-pick bite they were missing. If he heats up early, they tend to snowball maps. - Ninjas in Pyjamas – r1nkle
Their steady AWP anchor this season. With Snappi calling and sjuush doing the dirty work, r1nkle’s impact rounds usually decide tight halves. - M80 – Swisher
Plays loose, takes space, and isn’t shy about dueling star riflers. With the current five of slaxz-, Swisher, HexT, s1n and Lake, his entries often set the tone. - Legacy – dumau
The Brazilian spearhead in a stable core with latto, n1ssim, lux and saadzin. When he’s winning opening fights, Legacy look organized and dangerous.
Who Makes It Through?
If you’re looking for safe bets, ENCE and NiP probably sneak in-they’ve got the depth and experience to avoid slipping early. M80 feel like the hot hand, and if they keep rolling, they could absolutely grab one of the four slots. The last ticket? Legacy look like they’ve got the stability to edge it, but don’t be shocked if SAW or even JiJieHao come swinging out of nowhere.
This qualifier is shaping up to be messy in all the best ways. The veterans are trying to hold off challengers, the form teams are smelling blood, and the underdogs are itching for their one big upset. By the finish, four lineups will head to Malta, and odds are one will be an underdog story we didn’t see coming.
