“The Overwatch Esports team is made up of fans who share the same passion for the game and are dedicated to delivering the highest quality esports competition possible.”
This year's second Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS) live event is happening at the Esports World Cup (EWC), and as the crowds cheer for their favorites to take home the lion's share of $1,000,000, esports.gg interviewed Fernando Escamilla Valdez. He’s the associate director of Overwatch Esports’ product operations and is on site overseeing the Midseason Championship (MSC). We spoke with him about the OWCS at EWC 2025, the impact of crowdfunding, and more.
Interview: OWCS 2025 Midseason Championship
According to Valdez, the OWCS 2025 MSC at the EWC is incredible as the circuit's largest live event to date. Sixteen teams from around the world entered the tournament to duke it out for the bulk of the $1 million prize pool, club points, and a place in esports history.
The start of the playoffs bracket saw Team Liquid and Weibo Gaming push Korean powerhouses to the brink while Virtus.pro’s run through the elimination bracket earned them a spot out of the group stage. Virtus.pro also defeated Weibo Gaming, the team that took Team Falcons to Map 5 previously. Now as Twisted Minds just defeated T1 for a podium finish, all eyes are on Al Qadsiah versus Team Falcons in the grand final.
"MSC is turning out to be an awesome showdown for teams from across our regions, and with the event taking place at EWC, there’s a massive audience tuning in live and online, which presents incredible opportunities for players, teams, and our ecosystem," Valdez said.
He continued, "I’ve been lucky enough to have worked on BlizzCon, Overwatch League, and Overwatch World Cup, so leading live events of this size is something I’m very familiar with. EWC is a massive event, and bringing it to life is a significant achievement that takes a village. The team behind MSC has massive experience with events of this magnitude, and for that, I am extremely thankful to all the crew, talent, and players for making this a reality."
When we asked about how far the circuit has come since its announcement back in December 2024, Valdez pointed to the depth of competition now seen across all regions. His favorite moment so far? NTMR sending Crazy Raccoon to the losers’ bracket during Champions Clash.
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OWCS 2025 crowdfunding and community
Back in July, the Radiant Angel Mercy skin and the OWCS Partner Team bundles became available through Overwatch 2's in-game shop as crowdfunding options. Fans can now collect cosmetic items representing Crazy Raccoon, T1, Team Falcons, ZETA Division, Gen.G, Twisted Minds, Virtus.Pro, Spacestation Gaming, and Team Liquid.
Valdez said that the ability for fans to directly support their favorite Partner Teams has been well received. He also explained the impact of these bundles on the long-term sustainability of the OWCS circuit.
"Community and competition are both important elements in Overwatch and its esports programs," he told esports.gg. "We want our fans to engage and feel connected to the game, and one way of doing that is by giving them these types of cosmetics and working closely with the teams in their designs so fans can support their favorite teams. Partner Teams had the opportunity to create designs that reflect their brand, story, and identity, enabling fans to express themselves in new ways."
The future of Overwatch 2 esports
In terms of what the future of Overwatch 2 esports holds, Valdez hopes to see the circuit continue its upward momentum with more and more live events. He’s especially excited for the upcoming OWCS World Finals at DreamHack Stockholm.
As for parting words, he told esports.gg what Overwatch 2 and its competitive side means to him.
"I’ve been a lifelong Blizzard fan, and witnessing the Overwatch reveal during the BlizzCon 2014 opening ceremony was unforgettable," he said. "Since then, I knew the game would play a significant role in my life. The Overwatch Esports team is made up of fans who share the same passion for the game and are dedicated to delivering the highest quality esports competition possible. I invite you to watch OWCS and remember you can support your favorite Partner Teams through the OWCS Partner Team Bundles!"
That's all for now. Stick around on esports.gg for more interviews, news, and updates.
