The Esports World Cup 2025 produced one of its most thrilling clashes to date as Twisted Minds took out Call of Duty: Warzone in a heart-stopping 10-match grand final to claim their championship. For a group of veterans seeking their first LAN title, the win was historic and highly emotional.
The Road to Glory: Twisted Minds’ Underdog Journey
From North American Qualifier to Finals Contenders
As the fourth seed from North America, Twisted Minds with Aydan “Aydan” Conrad, Riley “zSmit” Smith, and Benjamin “Almond” Rosendahl entered the tournament with a solid performance in their group stage, where they ended up third and skipped the Last Chance bracket altogether. Their consistency was the beginning of something bigger.
Grand Final: Clash of Endurance and Strategy
The dramatic 10-game conclusion tested everyone to the limit. Twisted Minds accumulated five fourth-place finishes in the first half-dozen games, propelling them to match point. Yet with Virtus.pro reaching match point too, the last few rounds became a test of nerve and timing. It took Game 10 for Twisted Minds to seal the victory and say goodbye to a year-long LAN drought.
What Sets Twisted Minds Apart
1. First LAN Win: Finally Achieved
After years of top-shelf play on different teams, the first big LAN title for Aydan, zSmit, and Almond as a team and the culmination of countless careers’ hopes.
2. Veteran Synergy Meets New Unity
Individually, each of these players was always at the top of the Warzone community. As a team under Twisted Minds, they took their combined experience and turned it into something even greater, a winning combination on the largest stage.
3. Mental Toughness Under Pressure
Remaining for ten maps in the pressure of a tournament takes more than technical proficiency. Their consistency, flexibility, and clutch mastery shone through against opponents equally as high in pedigree.
4. Record Viewership and Pulse-Pounding Drama
Warzone at EWC 2025 set viewership records, tallying more than 312,000 peak live viewers and over 2.7 million hours viewed, making it the second-most viewed competitive Warzone event in history.
5. A Strategic Campaign That Was Almost Going to Go Horribly Wrong
The match point system created suspense when both Virtus.pro and Twisted Minds reached match point at the same time. The fact that Twisted Minds won under such circumstances says a great deal about their temperament.
Game Highlight: Winning It All in Game 10
The ultimate confrontation nearly got away. Following 9 intense matches, match points remained hanging between Virtus.pro and Twisted Minds. Seeing Twisted Minds struggle through to the winning round in Game 10 winning their first trophy, is the type of thing that makes champions. That clutch effort under such pressure didn’t merely win the game,it won fans
Quote to Capture the Moment
“It’s my first LAN win… it means everything to me,” Aydan replied.
“This is your objective, you began playing five years back with the aim of winning on the grand stage… I do know now this is the best squad I’ve ever played with.” — Aydan “Aydan” Conrad
Conclusion: A Plotline Worth Esports Legend
Way back in the epic tale of Esports World Cup 2025, Week 5’s Call of Duty: Warzone finale seemed like a matter of fate. Twisted Minds Aydan, zSmit, and Almond, together converted knotty strategies, experience, and endurance into a fairy-tale ending. From match point drama to Gamers’ hearts, they personified the competitive spirit.
With the Club Championship closing in on its conclusion, Twisted Minds have not only qualified, they’ve sparked a narrative that will reverberate within EWC history. Their journey doesn’t conclude here. With five additional titles to battle for, the ascent remains ongoing.
