Update July 31: Images from official press release added. AIC teaser added to conclusion of article
Korea Defeats Thailand in AWC Finals
Team Korea defeated Team Thailand in the finals of the inaugural Arena of Valor World Cup (AWC), 4-3, earning themselves roughly $200,000 of the total $550,000 prize pool and the title of best Arena of Valor team in the world. Rush was named AWC Most Valuable Player, netting himself over $10,000.
Finals a welcome change to otherwise one-sided bracket
After four mostly one-sided quarterfinals matches, the bracket shifted to a double-elimination format. Up until the Grand Final, however, the only close series was the losers semifinal, which didn’t feature either eventual grand finalist:
Korea summarily defeated Chinese Taipei in the losers final, 3-0, and continued their momentum into the Grand Final, taking the first two games of the best-of-seven series. However, Thailand stormed back, winning the next three games and seemed on the brink of continuing their surprising dominance of the Arena of Valor competitive scene.
In the end, Korea held their nerve, winning two relatively tight games, reversing the result of the winners final, and becoming the first AWC champion.
Check back to Samurai Gamers throughout the week for our analysis of the finals as well as other post-AWC coverage.
A shift at the top
Though Thailand was dominant throughout the AWC boot camp, Korea was decidedly in the second tier, losing 3-0 to Chinese Taipei in the semifinals there and finishing third overall. At the main event, though, Korea showed a new level of play from the very beginning, crushing all comers until a few lapses in the winners final against a resilient Thai team sent them to the losers bracket.
At the conclusion of the AWC, the pecking order appears to be: Korea and Thailand at the top, China and Chinese Taipei in the second tier, and then everyone else.
Viewership peaks at over 300,000
Arena of Valor has yet to completely saturate the western market, but thanks to huge numbers in East and Southeast Asia, the Arena of Valor World Cup reached a peak of 306,219 concurrent viewers overall. The vast majority of viewers watched the event on YouTube.
AoV International Championship Teased
At the conclusion of the AWC broadcast, the next Arena of Valor International Championship was announced for the coming winter, with the location to be somewhere in Southeast Asia.
Post-AWC Coverage
- AWC Finals Recap (August 1, 2018)
- AWC Semifinals and Finals Overview (July 31, 2018)
- Korea Crowned World Champions after Thrilling Seven Game Finals (July 29, 2018)
More Arena of Valor World Cup (AWC) Resources
- AWC Group Stage Overview (July 19, 2018)
- AWC Boot Camp Finalizes Groupings (July 3, 2018)
- Arena of Valor World Cup Boot Camp Overview (June 25, 2018)
- Valor Series North America Playoffs Recap (June 20, 2018)
- Valor Series Europe Playoffs Recap (June 18, 2018)
- AWC Update: MSP and Taiwan Teams Decided (May 30, 2018)
- Road to AWC: SEA Representative Determined This Weekend (May 25, 2018)
- Valor Series Playoff Teams Set For E3 (Week 6 Recap) (May 21, 2018)
- Valor Series Week 5 Recap (May 14, 2018)
- Valor Series Week 4 Recap (May 7, 2018)
- Samurai Gamers Advances to Next Stage of AWC Qualifiers (May 7, 2018)
- Valor Series Week 3 Recap (April 30, 2018)
- Valor Series Weeks 1 and 2 Recap (April 23, 2018)
- Arena of Valor World Cup Breaks Record with Prize Pool (April 17, 2018)
- AoV (MSP) Valor Cup Season 1 Grand Finals Recap (April 12, 2018)
- Valor Series Launch + AWC Wild Cards Named (March 27, 2018)
- $19,000 First Regional Valor Cup Announced (AWC Qualifier) (February 18, 2018)
- $500,000+ USD Arena of Valor World Cup (AWC) Announced (February 6, 2018)
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