BrokenBlade after victory over Bilibili Gaming : "We're still underdogs, but we demand respect"

G2 Esports advanced to the semifinals of the Esports World Cup 2025 by defeating the Chinese team Bilibili Gaming , securing at least $160,000 in prize money. After the match, G2's top laner Sergen “ BrokenBlade ” Çelik gave an interview, acknowledging that the team remains underdogs but now demands respect.

The victory of the European team over the LPL representative was a pivotal moment in the tournament — after a disappointing performance at the MSI, G2 approached the EWC with a desire to prove they can compete with the best.

BrokenBlade noted that his performance in the second game was his personal response to criticism following the MSI:

After MSI, I needed to prove that I am still worthy. And this was the perfect opportunity — at the Esports World Cup. I seized it, wanting to make amends.

Commenting on the overall community sentiment before the tournament, BrokenBlade emphasized that underestimating European teams was a mistake:

We are still underdogs after the MSI failure, but we deserve respect. We just defeated a team from the LPL .

The player confirmed that the team is determined to reach the finals and claim the title:

We all believe. We've caught a wave and found a good formula for winning. It doesn't matter who our next opponent is — it will be a strong team, and I look forward to the match.

The Esports World Cup 2025 takes place from July 16 to 20 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia . Teams are competing for a prize pool of $2,000,000.