August 15, 2025 – Esports World Cup, Riyadh
The Esports World Cup 2025 ended with a big win for Weibo Gaming in the Teamfight Tactics (TFT) tournament. On Friday, August 15, Yin “Saopimi” Shengjie stood on stage as the Sony Finals MVP. But instead of keeping the spotlight on himself, he turned it toward his team.
“I believe this MVP prize doesn’t belong to me alone, but to every single one of WBG,” Saopimi said with a smile. His words showed the strong bond between the players.
The tournament began on August 11 with 16 teams from around the world. They were split into four groups. Each group played best-of-three matches in a double-elimination format. Weibo Gaming quickly proved they were a top contender. They defeated strong teams like T1, Al Qadsiah Esports, and Team Vitality1.
The playoffs started on August 14. Weibo Gaming kept their momentum. They swept EVOS 2-0, then beat AEGIS 2-1. This set up a grand final against Virtus.pro, a team that had surprised many by reaching the last stage2.
The final was a best-of-five series. Weibo Gaming won the first game with all four players finishing in the top four spots. Virtus.pro fought back in the second game, tying the series. But in the third game, Saopimi gained a big advantage early. He used an augment called Caretaker’s Ally, which gave him a free Gangplank unit each time he leveled up. This helped him secure the win and put Weibo Gaming at match point.
In the fourth game, Weibo Gaming closed out the series 3-1. The victory earned them $150,000 in prize money and 1,000 Club Points toward the Club Championship leaderboard1. Saopimi also received $10,000 for his MVP performance1.
The team’s success came from more than just skill. They adapted their strategy during the tournament. They shifted to a “full tempo” style, which allowed them to pressure opponents early and often. This flexibility made them hard to counter.
Saopimi’s stats were impressive. He had a 71% win rate, a 2.75 average placement, and 25 total points across the event. But he insisted that the award was a team achievement. His teammates — Yao “LingBaoTianZun” Chuanheng, Wu “Guan” Jinxin, and Zhang “TianLong” Tianlong — all played key roles in the win1.
LingBaoTianZun shared his own feelings after the match. “I was incredibly excited. There’s no doubt about that in my mind,” he said. He also spoke about how their hard work in preparing for EWC 2025 had paid off.
The win also boosted Weibo Gaming’s position in the Club Championship standings. They climbed to 8th place with 1,950 points. The team will compete in Street Fighter 6 next week, giving them another chance to rise in the rankings2.
For now, the focus is on their TFT triumph. The victory brought pride to their fans in China and respect from the global esports community. And for Saopimi, the MVP award will always be a reminder of what they achieved together.
You can read more about the event on esports.gg coverage and the Esports World Cup official news page.
