Aurora secured a historic spot in the Esports World Cup 2025 Grand Final, defeating Falcons 2-0 in the semifinal. The Turkish squad delivered a dominant performance on Inferno and held their nerve on Train, while Falcons will now face Vitality in the third-place decider.
Road on the Tournament
Interestingly, these two teams had already faced each other nearly six months ago at ESL Pro League Season 21, where Aurora came out on top with a 2-1 victory.
At the current tournament, the Turkish side showed strong form. They first overcame FaZe in a tense 2-1 battle and then dispatched HEROIC 2-0 in the quarterfinals, securing their place in the semis.
Falcons, featuring world-class stars such as NiKo and m0NESY, started their campaign with a 2-0 win over G2. Their next challenge came against MOUZ — a team that has consistently reached the finals of big events lately. Despite the danger, Falcons managed to edge out MOUZ with a 2-1 scoreline.
Battle for the Final
The semifinal kicked off on Inferno, where Aurora immediately took control of the game. Their aggressive yet disciplined play left no chance for Falcons, as the Turkish team cruised to a convincing 13-6 win.
The teams then moved on to Train, where the battle became much fiercer. Aurora finished the first half with a 7-5 lead, but Falcons tried to turn the game around after switching sides. The turning point came with a phenomenal clutch from MAJ3R, who in a 1vs3 situation (T — pre-plant) managed to win the round and break the 9-9 tie, swinging the momentum back in Aurora’s favor. The tension kept rising with every round, and at 12-11 Aurora finally closed it out, taking the map 13-11. With this victory, they advanced to the Grand Final, where they will face The MongolZ.
MVP of the Match
The standout performer of the semifinal was XANTARES, who once again proved his status as Aurora’s leader. His numbers were outstanding: ADR — 92.1, Swing — +4.92%, and an impressive 1.52 rating. With consistent impact and crucial clutch plays, XANTARES was the key factor in Aurora’s triumph.
Aurora March into the Final
Falcons could not secure a win in this crucial semifinal against Aurora and lost their chance to fight for the championship. Despite their individual firepower and the presence of stars like NiKo and m0NESY, the team lacked stability in decisive rounds. For a roster with such ambitions, failing to reach the final is a clear disappointment. Now, Falcons will have to settle for the third-place playoff against Vitality, which gives them an opportunity to end the tournament on a positive note and prove their consistency at the top level.
For Aurora, this victory carries special significance. It marks their first Grand Final appearance at a major international tournament in 2025. Their best result so far this year had been a third-place finish at PGL Astana 2025, but now they have guaranteed at least silver and will compete for the ultimate prize. This is a huge step forward for the organization and proof that Aurora are gradually establishing themselves among the world’s elite. Ahead of them lies the Grand Final against The MongolZ — a thrilling clash that could become a historic moment for Turkish Counter-Strike.
