📝 Virtus.pro untouchable and Goud Guys bow out with grace: EMEA OWCS Week 6 summary

The final week of the Regular Season of Overwatch Champions Series EMEA delivered high-stakes clashes, regional rivalries, and our first look at the playoff landscape that’s about to unfold next weekend. Al Qadsiah, Virtus.pro, and Twisted Minds continued to reaffirm their dominance at the top of the table, making swift work of their opponents. Meanwhile, the French showdown between Team Peps and Goud Guys ANM provided some of the weekend’s most dramatic Overwatch.

For some teams, Week 6 was about fine-tuning before the inevitable playoff gauntlet, for others, it marked the end of the line. If you’ve missed the action leading up to this weekend, you can check last week’s summary to catch up.

Game of the week: Team Peps 2 - 3 Goud Guys ANM

Team Peps faced off against Goud Guys ANM, a matchup steeped in playoff tension and French rivalry. Following Peps’ earlier 3-0 loss to Virtus.pro, Goud Guys entered the fixture with a golden opportunity. A 3-0 sweep would see them snatch Peps’ playoff spot.

What followed was a tense five-map showdown that swung dramatically between dominance and desperation, with both teams displaying flashes of brilliance. While Goud Guys ultimately sealed the 3-2 series victory, Team Peps secured at least one map, secured their playoff seed, and sealed Goud Guys' 7th place.

Peps opened the series on Ilios, banning Symmetra while Goud Guys banned D.Va. On Well, Loïc “KroxZ” Ricci’s Winston set the tempo early, diving aggressively onto Peps’ backline and enabling kio’s Sojourn to find consistent picks. Despite Peps securing the initial cap, Goud Guys’ sustained pressure forced Peps into awkward re-engagements, and the double support ultimates from Goud Guys sealed the first round. On Ruins, KroxZ quickly adapted to Peps’ Reaper-Zarya composition by swapping to Wrecking Ball, and it immediately paid off. His aggressive Ball play forced Brice “FDGod” Monsçavoir off Wuyang and onto Lucio. However, the switch came too late for Peps, and Goud Guys maintained the ultimate economy and closed out the map 2-0 to take the early series lead.

With their playoff hopes hanging by a thread, Peps responded strongly on Esperança. The teams mirrored their compositions, except for KroxZ on Junker Queen and William “Willys” Ersson on Hazard. Adjusting their previous errors, Peps’ ultimate management proved much sharper than their opposition through the map. They consistently locked down Johnowich and prevented him from getting a Sound Barrier off, which allowed Peps to control the tempo. A late push from KroxZ’s Roadhog nearly turned the tide, but the team ran out of forward momentum close to the finish line. Team Peps secured the map and their spot in the playoffs.

Despite losing their playoff slot, Goud Guys did not lay down their arms, they stood up to fight. They took Peps to Aatlis, and the tank duel between Willys and KroxZ once again defined the flow. KroxZ started by mirroring Willys’ Hazard, but an early struggle forced him to swap to Orisa, which helped Goud Guys secure the opening point. As the map progressed, both sides traded adaptations, Willys pivoting to Zarya and KroxZ back to Hazard. The deciding moment came on the fifth and final point, when Goud Guys looked all but finished after losing three players early. In a stunning turn, kio and Simon “sxj” Debono clutched a 2v5, eliminating key targets and stalling long enough for their teammates to return. Adrian “EgS” Serwatka’s clutch Kitsune Rush capped off the miracle hold, earning Goud Guys a dramatic map win and a 2-1 series advantage.

Peps answered back with a dominant showing, making a statement of their newly earned place in the playoffs. With Goud Guys banning Reaper, KroxZ’s Zarya pick fell flat against Peps’ confident frontline led by Willys once again on Hazard. Peps stormed through the map, completing the payload with nearly four minutes left. Goud Guys struggled to match the pace. KroxZ’s Roadhog failed to find early value, and though a late swap to Winston helped them break the initial choke, their push stalled short of the final checkpoint. Peps’ convincing defence tied the series 2–2 and sent the match to a decider.

Goud Guys took the decider game to Junkertown. The final map saw KroxZ return to his comfort-pick, Roadhog, and dominate from start to finish. Peps appeared poised to take an early advantage, but Goud Guys’ resilient defence delayed their first capture long enough to cripple their offensive momentum. On their attack, Goud Guys rolled through with confidence, leveraging KroxZ’s consistent picks to dismantle Peps and close out the map and the series with a 3-2 victory.

Although the 3-0 dream result that would have propelled them into playoffs slipped away on Esperança, Goud Guys ANM showcased exceptional resilience and adaptability to take the series over Team Peps. For Peps, the loss serves as a sobering reminder of inconsistency under pressure, while Goud Guys leave the weekend with a statement win.

Through roster changes, scheduling struggles, and moments of burnout, the team managed to rally when it mattered most, culminating in one of their most spirited performances of the season. Team manager Elisa “elle” reflected on that journey with a mix of honesty and pride:

“I think this stage was my most challenging so far, but we somehow came together and showed up for each other when it was important. Sxj helped a lot with finding the right words to bring people together that have different communication styles.”

The team’s late-stage cohesion was built on perseverance and belief, and elle’s gratitude for her players shines through even as the season closes:

“I am very proud of the team, especially about winning and performing well against teams that have infinitely more resources than us. I have no regrets, and I’m happy now looking back to be as involved as I was.”

Though the future for Goud Guys ANM remains uncertain, elle’s words leave little doubt about the spirit that defines the roster:

“I love my team, even though they drive me insane sometimes… [I’m] burning for this esport, still and with a bright flame.”

It’s a fitting goodbye for a team that, despite missing the playoffs, earned the respect of fans and peers alike through their heart and determination.

Hook, headshot, done. KroxZ ends the season with a bang.

KroxZ earns our player of the week honours after a standout Week 6, where his leadership, hero versatility, and clutch plays that turned maps and shifted momentum in one of the most consequential series of the stage.

During his recent interview with OWTV, KroxZ’s spirit seemed to have dampened, but his determination to overcome the French duel and “...f*** Team Peps up…” was much too strong.

Despite not managing the 3-0 sweep over Team Peps and missing out on the final playoff spot, KroxZ put on a display that showcased why Goud Guys lean so heavily on not only his skill as a tank but also his shot-calling, especially under pressure.

Through this stage, KroxZ has displayed a vast range of heroes in his arsenal. Whether piloting Winston, Roadhog, Hazard, or Wrecking Ball, whenever a matchup demands the switch, he adapts swiftly. While some of these hero picks may seem only cosmetic, the results KroxZ has achieved individually, and especially against their local rivals this past week, show the breadth of his skills and deep experience as a veteran athlete of the sport.

KroxZ’s performance in Week 6 did more than just win maps, he set the tempo, shaped Peps’ decision-making, and anchored Goud Guys’ composure despite the morale blow from missing the playoff spot after losing Map 2. His consistency, adaptability, and presence made him the most impactful individual across the five-map thriller, making him an easy choice for player of the week.

Meta summary: The no meta region lives on… for now

In our Week 1 summary, we made a note of Virtus.pro playing the double-flex-DPS composition, while Al Qadsiah and Twisted Minds continued playing around their star hitscan players. We had noted a significant decrease in Ramattra picks compared to OWCS Stage 2, and fewer Symmetra picks as well. It’s been an interesting shift watching the EMEA meta develop over the past six weeks. While not necessarily in major shifts or sweeping changes, but rather slow and steady refinements, week after week.

At the end of Week 6, similar to Week 5, no single hero is dominating the meta in EMEA. There’s a noticeable shift compared to Week 1, such as Ramattra slowly regaining his old status, Wuyang becoming a reliable pick across every team, and the Zarya-Reaper team-up playing a critical role. While Symmetra, who was almost completely phased out after her dominance in Stage 2, has now slowly crawled back and featured in every single match-up this weekend.

We were also wondering during the first couple of weeks of the season whether or not EMEA would follow suit after Korea’s double-flex-DPS dominance. However, the region definitely has its own conventions and personality, as every team continues to prefer the hitscan with Sojourn or Freja, including Virtus.pro, who early on seemed the most open to switching over to the double-flex DPS.

Nevertheless, all this is subject to change with today’s (October 14, 2025) patch and the start of Season 19 of Overwatch 2. Regardless of any changes, the upcoming patch will be the subject of a lot of discussions, as its timing, four days before the start of the playoffs, might completely flip the script for the teams involved. The teams will have to be quick to adjust, strategise, and present their solutions come Saturday, or risk facing a very early exit on their journey to Stockholm.

Results summary: Team Peps and Goud Guys ANM inch closer to playoffs

Al Qadsiah 3 - 1 Gen.G Esports

The clash between Gen.G Esports and Al Qadsiah may not have had any strong implications for either team, since Al Qadsiah had already guaranteed their #1 seed for the playoffs, and Gen.G were through regardless of their result here. However, a win for Gen.G in this matchup may have eased things for Goud Guys ANM later in the weekend, but Al Qadsiah had other plans.

Starting on Lijiang Tower, Gen.G put up a respectable showing but never fully closed the door. They looked sharp in skirmishes and early fights, but their final push faltered. A misstep here, a failed clean-up there. Oleksandr “Chase” Okseschenko seemed out of his element, and it was a close start, but Gen.G couldn’t finish.

Gen.G then picked King’s Row, where they were very successful the previous week against Twisted Minds. However, Al Qadsiah came in prepared: they banned Reaper to stop Gen.G from repeating themselves, forcing Jamie “Backbone” O'Neill onto Venture. Midway through, Daniel “xzodyal” Castro stepped up on Sojourn, and Gen.G capped three points with 49 seconds left on the clock. Al Qadsiah’s response was methodical and brutal: they broke through early, punished poor positioning (notably on point two), and closed with more than 3 minutes to spare. In overtime, they imposed total dominance. Gen.G looked outmatched.

Gen.G entered their favoured map, Esperanca, confident in running the Symmetra composition. which has been working wonders for them all season. Al Qadsiah tried to counter the composition by banning the second piece of the puzzle for Gen.G’s Symmetra comp, but xzodyal simply swapped to Sojourn and continued his inspired form. Gen.G struck first, winning multiple fights in a row and opening up a comfortable lead. Al Qadsiah put up a fight towards the end, but a critical pick on Abdulelah “LBBD7” Alfaifi late in the round shut down the comeback. Gen.G finally broke their map drought.

On Map 4, Al Qad struck fast, taking the first two points decisively. Backbone and xzodyal never found a moment’s peace. xzodyal started on Freja, switched to Sojourn to no avail, and finally landed on Tracer. But after that rough start, Gen.G recalibrated. They clawed back, capturing two in a row and pushing things to a fifth point. However, with the map on the line, miscommunication, slight hesitation, and a desync across the Gen.G team opened a window for Al Qad. They seized it, flipped the point and put an end to the series 3–1.

Team Peps 0 - 3 Virtus.pro

After Gen.G’s loss to Al Qadsiah in the previous fixture, a single map win in this matchup would have secured Team Peps their playoff seed, regardless of their result against Goud Guys ANM later in the weekend. However, Virtus.pro denied them the secure qualification and swept over a floundering Team Peps 3-0.

Virtus.pro wasted no time establishing dominance. The opening map in Garden, Lijiang Tower, was completely one-sided, as Kevin “kevster” Persson, Jonas “eisgnom” Stratemeyer, and Kwon “FiXa” Yeong-hun completely dismantled Team Peps in a 100% to 0% rout. In Control Center, both teams went full mirror with Zarya, Kiriko, and Lucio, including kevster on Reaper. Virtus.pro’s composition completely outperformed Peps’ mirror. Despite Peps securing a fight off the Graviton Surge, their support ultimates never lined up properly to keep the momentum going. Ultimately, eisgnom proved to be the better Zarya and Virtus.pro sealed the round, setting the tone for the rest of the series.

In Aatlis, VP subbed in Kim “JaeWoo” Jae-woo for Niclas “sHockWave” Smidt Jensen, and both teams went with the double-flex-DPS composition. As the masters of the double-flex in EMEA, and eisgnom on the Wrecking Ball, VP faced no trouble at all and secured a swift 3-0 win.

sHockWave returned for the final map in King’s Row. Peps banned Sojourn to force Leo-Kristian “Zorrow” Sundin’s preferred Freja mirror, and sHockWave fully rose to the occasion. Peps showed flashes of cohesion, with Zorrow performing on his usual level on Freja and Brice "FDGod" Monsçavoir charging incredibly fast Wuyang ultimates. Despite VP setting up a hard defence line at the start of the 3rd point, Team Peps eventually manages to break the chokehold and push the cart to the finish line. However, in a very costly misstep, they lost focus on the payload and abandoned it just meters from the finish line. Virtus.pro spared no moment to put the nail in the coffin and completely dominated on their push. kevster spearheaded the push, supported by a flawless execution from the rest of VP, and they capped off the map with more than three minutes on the clock.

Virtus.pro completely dominated the 3-0 sweep and set themselves up perfectly for their second match of the weekend against Team Vision the following day.

Team Vision 0 - 3 Virtus.pro

The final match of the weekend saw Team Vision take on a red-hot Virtus.pro squad, who were looking to close out Stage 3 on a high note. For Vision, this matchup was about pride, and a chance to show that their mechanical talent could hang with one of the region’s most coordinated rosters.

Unfortunately for them, Virtus.pro left no room for doubt, dismantling Vision in a clean 3–0 sweep defined by immaculate timing, superior ultimate management, and clinical execution.

On Map 1, Virtus.pro came out swinging on Night Market, with Jesús “Galaa” Núñez López’s Kiriko setting the pace early through a lightning-fast Kitsune Rush that allowed VP to establish firm control. When Park “Viol2t” Min-ki attempted to answer with his own Rush, sHockWave’s Overclock instantly punished the counterplay, wiping Vision’s entire team and locking down the round 100–0. On Garden, Choi “ChoiSehwan” Se-hwan opted to mirror kevster and swapped to Reaper, and cookie moved onto Cassidy. Despite an early pick on kevster, Vision failed to capitalise, allowing VP time to regroup. Once again, Galaa matched Viol2t’s tempo perfectly with a simultaneous Rush, leading to an immediate collapse of Vision’s formation. With FiXa’s Sound Barrier sealing the final teamfight, Virtus.pro closed out the map convincingly to take a 1–0 series lead.

Team Vision sought to change the pace on their favoured Junkertown. With Viol2t locked in to go Illari, they banned Kiriko to limit Galaa’s impact and forced Virtus.pro into an atypical Baptiste composition. Vision’s progress through the map is quite slow, but steady. They poke and prod at a defensively stable Virtus.pro, and eventually manage to crawl their way and capture the first two points after exploiting a pair of mistimed Graviton Surges from eisgnom, with Viol2t’s Captive Sun providing the key finishing power on the second point. However, VP’s disciplined delays between fights bled Vision’s time bank dry, and when eisgnom finally landed a crucial Graviton on Tama, Virtus.pro halted Vision’s push midway through the final stretch. On their attack, Virtus.pro rolled through with mechanical precision. eisgnom’s D.Va swaps and kevster’s surgical picks prevented Vision from ever mounting a full defence. Between coordinated eliminations and perfectly timed ultimates, VP’s momentum was unstoppable, completing the map and taking a commanding 2–0 lead.

With their backs against the wall, Vision picked King’s Row in hopes of steadying the series. They banned Lucio, opting for a composition featuring Tama’s D.Va against eisgnom’s Hazard. The choice did little to slow Virtus.pro’s relentless pace. Vision’s push faltered almost immediately, as they failed to secure even a single tick on the opening capture point, consistently losing duels across every position. On their own attack, Virtus.pro executed a flawless take, cutting through Vision’s defences with ruthless efficiency to secure the map and close out the series 3-0.

Virtus.pro’s 3–0 sweep over Team Vision underscored the gulf between contenders and chasers in the EMEA. VP looked every bit the powerhouse their 6-1 record suggests. Vision, meanwhile, showed glimpses of coordination but lacked the composure and consistency to threaten Virtus.pro’s dominance. For Virtus.pro, the win further solidifies their top-tier form heading into playoffs, efficient, confident, and unshakable.

Quick Esports 0 - 3 Twisted Minds

With Twisted Minds looking to rebound from their recent setbacks against Gen.G and Quick Esports already locked into last place, this matchup carried little in the way of playoff tension — but plenty of expectations for a clean performance from one of EMEA’s elite squads.

Twisted Minds delivered exactly that, cruising to a 3–0 sweep over Quick Esports in a series that rarely looked competitive. Ahmad “Youbi” Alyoubi made his first appearance of Stage 3 for Twisted Minds, stepping in for Maximilian “Seicoe” Otter, who was flying back home after playing in the Saudi eLeague and did not make it back in time for the game. Whether Youbi sticks around in the starting line-up after this, we’ll find out in the playoffs.

On Garden, Quick Esports briefly found footing by mirroring Twisted Minds’ Symmetra composition, but their success was short-lived. Twisted Minds’ coordination and superior mechanical edge quickly reasserted control, with Youbi fitting seamlessly into the lineup as they closed out the map comfortably. The following two maps followed the same story: Twisted Minds dictating every engagement, suffocating Quick Esports’ attempts to adapt. Every teamfight felt one-sided as Twisted Minds rolled through the series with confidence, showing no mercy and little need for adjustment.

It was business as usual for Twisted Minds, who dispatched Quick Esports in a swift 3–0 sweep. We’ll see if Youbi will see more playtime in the playoffs, while Quick’s winless streak extends through the end of the regular season. For Twisted Minds, the result is less about the scoreline and more about regaining rhythm and confidence heading into the playoffs.

Quick Esports: The joyful underdogs of EMEA

For Quick Esports, the end of Stage 3 marks not just the conclusion of a season, but the close of a story that began almost by accident. The roster, originally a casual lineup called “Chill Masters”, was never meant to compete at the OWCS level. However, when The Ultimates disbanded just a few weeks before the start of the competition, Quick were called to fill the vacancy, stepping into the spotlight with little preparation and a lot of heart. Team manager Sarita “antares” recalled those events:

“We didn’t expect to play in OWCS. This roster was built to play and chill in FIL Masters. Before I pulled the boys to Quick Esports, their team name was literally ‘Chill Masters.’ Players that got together to play from time to time.”

That carefree start didn’t stop them from taking the challenge seriously once the matches began.

“I told the admins from the very beginning that we were going to be the Dhillducks of EMEA,” antares said. “There was some pressure. It’s still a competitive tournament, but I promise everyone that they actually cared. They tried their hardest when it mattered.”

Even as the losses piled up, Quick’s energy and humour never faded. Their willingness to laugh, experiment, and keep playing with joy has been refreshing in a region known for its intensity. Antares noted their matchup against Al Qadsiah and the way it ended:

“EMEA is a very, very serious region that doesn’t give much room to be funny and goofy,” antares added. “But you’re going against titans, you play your game, and they match your vibe — it’s fun, it loosens the pressure. There was never something on the line for us, so why not play something we enjoy?”

Quick Esports coach Ryan “PnR” Foskett echoed that sentiment, saying the season revealed the players’ character and resilience:

“Even if it wasn’t the best showing a team could have, Quick proved that when players are put in a tough environment of only losing, where they aren’t expected to win, they can still improve and have fun at the same time.”

He also praised their determination to turn even failure into growth.

“A season like this shows the true colours of players and exposes their flaws,” he explained, “but as a coach, it allows me to help them improve as much as possible. Some of the players should be very proud of their performances against not only some of the best teams in the region, but the world.”

The highlight of Quick’s season didn’t come in an official match, but in a community-driven showmatch against the North American Dhillducks. A cross-regional celebration that perfectly captured both teams’ charms.

“It proved that even if you’re the worst team in the region, you can still make an enjoyable time for the people watching, and still have fans,” said PnR. “Massive shoutout to Antares and everyone involved in making it happen.”

Looking back, both manager and coach share the same pride.

“Every single one of my players has potential,” antares reflected. “They were never meant to play in OWCS, yet they went toe-to-toe with teams that had infinitely more resources.”

And while their OWCS run ends here, Quick’s story doesn’t feel over.

“It was a fun season with ups and downs, but it went exactly how we expected it,” Antares concluded. “We’re curious what the future holds, and we’re sure to come back next stage as a serious team, and give our best with the right resources.”