Kekker Crowned Champion at First Etheria: Restart Global Invitational
Top players from around the world battle it out at the first EWS Global Invitational for a $30,000 prize pool
Shanghai, China — 22 July, 2025 | After two days of high-stakes strategic gameplay and global competition, Kekker has officially been crowned the inaugural champion of the Etheria: Restart World Series (EWS) 2025 Global Invitational. The eight finalists emerged from a global qualifier pool and competed in a single-elimination bracket across two days. Hosted live in Shanghai, the EWS Finals brought together top players from around the world for an electrifying showdown, culminating in a fiercely contested grand final between Kekker and Han.
In a tense best-of-five (Bo5) series, Kekker edged out Han with a final score of 3–2, demonstrating why he is regarded as one of the most precise and consistent players in the competitive scene. Game 1 saw him take early control with calculated tempo and flawless resource timing, while Game 2 and 3 tested his composure under pressure as Han mounted a comeback. Kekker ultimately secured the final game through disciplined play and superior cooldown management. Notably, Kekker is known within the community for his in-match note-taking habits, an idiosyncrasy that caught the attention of both fans and commentators during the broadcast.
The grand finals were broadcast live from Shanghai and featured full English-language commentary by casters Excoundrel and Volkin. Across the two-day event, they provided real-time analysis and play-by-play coverage, offering global audiences a clear and accessible window into the strategic depth of Etheria: Restart. Their casting helped contextualize key moments, highlight player decisions, and guide viewers through the flow of each match. "Kekker played with nerves of steel. His ability to maintain control and read his opponent's every move made this a masterclass in tactical gameplay," they said.
Check out the highlights from the EWS here:
The EWS 2025 tournament attracted participants from over 20 countries and featured a total prize pool of $30,000 USD, with Kekker claiming $15,000 as champion. Notably, five of the top eight finalists hailed from Europe, underscoring global talent in the competitive scene.
This event marks a significant milestone for Etheria: Restart, firmly establishing it on the global competitive esports calendar. The EWS Invitational set a new standard for turn-based RPGs, combining top-tier gameplay, international participation, and dynamic broadcast coverage to deliver an unforgettable tournament experience.
XD Games
Founded in 2003, XD Games. is a global video games developer and publisher with extensive experience across development, publishing and operations. As of 2022, XD has 38 free-to-play and paid games with over 50 million monthly active users worldwide. In addition, TapTap — a mobile games community and app store — was launched by XD in 2016 and is estimated to currently have 44 million monthly active users.
XD's mission is to assemble like-minded talented games industry craftspeople with a common goal of touching the hearts of players around the world. XD produces games of the finest quality with passion, offering a pure gaming experience, and encouraging players of all ages to embrace the unique joy of video gaming.
