The prestigious 2025 PUBG MOBILE World Cup (PMWC) is shifting into high-gear as the pivotal Survival Stage has concluded after two days of high-stakes plays and fierce competition which saw Horaa Esports take pole position. In total, eight elite teams have emerged victorious, earning a spot to compete in the 2025 PMWC Grand Finals, where they’ll be reunited with the eight teams that came out on top during the Group Stage last weekend. Only one team will take home the lion’s share of the $3 million prize pool, and the crown position as the 2025 PMWC Champion, as part of the Esports World Cup in Riyadh.

Over the course of three action-packed days, the Survival Stage delivered intense battles in 12 adrenaline-fueled matches, as 16 teams fought for the final eight coveted slots in the Grand Finals. Early momentum was set by Fire Flux Esports on day one, consistently securing top finishes, while POWR Esports made a strong impact on day two with aggressive plays and smart rotations. Throughout the stage, teams such as Regnum Carya and eArena demonstrated their resilience and adaptability, skillfully navigating high-pressure situations to place in the Top 3 for four of their matches. The MEA region also proved itself a powerhouse, with both Team Falcons and POWR Esports advancing to the Grand Finals. Surprisingly, last year’s reigning champions, Alpha7 Esports, were eliminated in this Survival Stage, ending their run in the tournament after a series of hard-fought matches, guaranteeing a new team will take the throne.

Showcasing their strategic brilliance, Horaa Esports earned an impressive 108 points, marking them as the top dogs of the Survival Stage. Along with seven other finalists from this stage, they have secured their spot in the Grand Finals.

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The 16 top-performing teams to compete in the Grand Finals from tomorrow include:

1. Horaa Esports
2. Fire Flux Esports
3. POWR Esports
4. Regnum Carya
5. eArena
6. NS RedForce
7. Team Falcons
8. Yangon Galacticos
9. Alter Ego Ares
10. 4Thrives Esports
11. DRX
12. Weibo Gaming
13. Alpha Gaming
14. Team Secret
15. TT Global
16. IDA Esports

This Grand Finals will also feature a brand new theme song Smash!, a hype beat that will play once the SMASH ruleset is active and a team is just one Winner Winner Chicken Dinner away from overall victory. With the placements confirmed and schedule locked in, the 2025 PMWC Grand Finals weekend is set to be an exceptional display of top PUBG MOBILE Esports talent. As the second edition of the PUBG MOBILE World Cup (PMWC), and part of the Esports World Cup, these dedicated teams will be doubling down on their competitive edge, leaving everything on the battleground as they fight for the crown, and the lion’s share of the $3 million prize pool.

FBMDS just launched Secrets of Scarabs, the first title in its brand-new Titan Series – a premium slot collection created to deliver engaging gameplay, flexible configurations, and high-quality performance across platforms.

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In a move to help consolidate ICE Barcelona’s status as the most important business event in global gaming Clarion has confirmed the appointment of Margaret Dunn as Portfolio Director. 

Margaret joins the ICE leadership team from Easyfairs, where she spent 10-years most recently as Portfolio Director responsible for the Energy and Logistics Division. During her decade at Easyfairs she was responsible for a diversified portfolio which included a range of international exhibitions, magazines, award ceremonies and digital products.

Announcing the appointment Clarion Gaming Managing Director Stuart Hunter said: “I am delighted to welcome Margaret to head-up a talented team which succeeded in delivering the show’s relocation from London to Barcelona resulting in January’s biggest ever gathering of gambling industry professionals in history.

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“The leadership and experience that Margaret brings having worked at a senior level in a number of dynamic and technology-driven sectors will help the ICE brand to achieve what are ambitious growth targets and meet the needs of our global customers who travelled to ICE Barcelona from no fewer than 186 nations.”

Looking ahead to the latest chapter in her career Margaret commented: “When you bring so many influential industry professionals, operators and regulators together in one place, it provides a unique opportunity to effect change and I’m really excited to be working on a world class event that impacts so many businesses throughout the world.”

She continued: “A key objective for the 2026 edition is to attract even more cutting-edge technology providers to ICE to share how their innovations are reshaping the gaming experience.”

“There were over 300 regulators at ICE 2025 and I can’t wait to work with the team to grow those numbers even further and in the process help the sector to play a role in how the future of gambling policy is shaped. Other priorities include championing the progressive DEIB programme at ICE 2026 alongside the hugely successful award-winning Sustainable Gambling Zone”