After five weeks of competition, Candy Crush Saga has crowned its Candy Crush All Stars 2025 champion of the Live Final in Los Angeles.
The winner of the $500,000 prize and a diamond-encrusted championship ring from Iceboox was Tiago P. from Portugal, now crowned the 2025 Candy Crush All Stars Champion.
The Live Final was officially hosted by TV personality and tech expert from The Today Show, Katie Linendoll, who led the 10 finalists into a head-to-head battle for their chance to clinch the coveted title.
Tiago P. beat more than 15 million hopeful players competing in the in-game tournament. Tiago P. was invited to participate at the in-person Live Final and clinched the ultimate title.
“From day one, I approached the tournament like a mission,” said Tiago P. in a statement. “ Setting clear gameplay goals and pushing past them, one level at a time, is what got me here. My family was amazing, this win belongs to all of us. The Candy Crush community, the thrill of competition, and the support I’ve felt, it’s been one of the most unforgettable journeys of my life.”
As for other finalists, one of the closest competitors was second place runner-up, Ingrid R. from California. A player who approached the game with strategic precision, Ingrid described her tactic as “building the strongest game board possible” and sticking to a routine that helped her stay calm. She secured second place and a $250,000 prize.
And rounding out the top three was Aalja B. from Atlanta, who balanced play with family life. “I’ve been playing for years to unwind,” she said. “But when the tournament came around, I saw a chance to go all in. I’d never done something like this before and now I get to go home with $100,000.”
The 10 finalists represent the heart of the Candy Crush community spanning three decades in age, five different countries and a range of life experiences.
From 26-year-old roofing entrepreneur Hayden S. from Texas, who called “everyone I knew” when he secured his place in the final, to 59-year-old Ken N. who is a Florida-based father of 10 who is a returning finalist and donates a portion of his winnings to a charity foundation which is personally close to him and his family.
Now in its fifth year, the free-to-enter Candy Crush All Stars in-game tournament began on March 20, 2025, with over 15 million Crushers competing through multiple rounds for more than just bragging rights. To win an invite to the Live Final, players needed to move through each stage collecting as many All Stars purple Candies as possible, resulting in 11.4 trillion Candies collected and 2.2 billion levels played.
“This year’s tournament was our boldest yet, and we continue to be inspired by the passion and dedication from the Candy Crush community,” said Luken Aragon, VP of marketing for Candy Crush Saga at King, in a statement. “Whether you’re from a small town in Portugal or anywhere else in the world, if you love the game and you have the determination, you can win. That is the magic of Candy Crush Saga.”
Candy Crush Saga is free to download and play on iOS and Android. Candy Crush Saga has more than 18,000 levels. In November 2022, Candy Crush Saga celebrated its 10-year anniversary. King has more than 200 million monthly active players.