The wait is over. The Esports World Cup 2025 (EWC) officially opened in Riyadh on July 10, signaling the start of the biggest esports tournament the world has ever seen. Hosted by the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF), this seven-week mega-event features 2,000 top players, 24 global titles, and a record-breaking $70 million prize pool, establishing it as the most ambitious and lucrative competitive gaming event in history.
From now until August 24, fans will witness a gaming spectacle that transcends esports — blending pop culture, elite gameplay, broadcast innovation, and global entertainment.
💰 $70M Up for Grabs: Cross-Title Competition Sets New Industry Standard
At the core of EWC 2025 is the Club Championship, a pioneering format where the top 200 esports Clubs compete across multiple games to crown the ultimate all-around champion. The winning club will take home a $7 million grand prize and the coveted EWC Club Championship Trophy.
The prize pool breakdown includes:
- $38M+ allocated for individual game tournaments
- $7M for the Club Champion
- $5M in global qualifiers
- $450K in MVP bonuses
🌍 Global Icons, Global Stage: Carlsen and Ronaldo Lead the Charge
The tournament’s reach is amplified by its star power, with Cristiano Ronaldo and chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen joining as official EWC Global Ambassadors. Carlsen will also compete in the inaugural EWC Chess Tournament from July 29–31, marking a landmark moment as traditional sports legends step into the esports spotlight.
📺 Broadcasting Like Never Before: 7,000+ Hours Across 140 Countries
The EWC 2025 broadcast will span over 7,000 hours — a figure second only to the Paris 2024 Olympics — and reach fans in 140 countries in 35 languages via 90+ global partners, including:
- FOX Sports (U.S.)
- DAZN (in 16 countries)
- Eurosport
- NAVER (South Korea)
- Twitch, YouTube, TikTok (Streaming globally)
✨ EWC Spotlight: Where Gaming Meets Culture
Airing every Championship Weekend, EWC Spotlight is a newly launched, IMG-produced flagship series hosted by Hugh Woozencroft and Rachel Stringer. With over 50 hours of live coverage, the series will mix gameplay highlights with celebrity interviews, cultural commentary, and behind-the-scenes exclusives. The premiere aired during the Opening Ceremony, offering fans a front-row seat to EWC’s electric fusion of esports and entertainment.
🎤 Opening Ceremony: Music Meets Mayhem in Riyadh
The Opening Ceremony was nothing short of a spectacle. Global superstars Post Malone, Alesso, and Tina Guo performed alongside a show-stopping collaboration by DINO of SEVENTEEN, Duckwrth, and Telle Smith (The Word Alive), who debuted the official EWC 2025 anthem, “Til My Fingers Bleed”. Fireworks and a breathtaking drone show lit up the Riyadh skyline, ushering in a summer of global gaming celebration.
🏙 Riyadh Transforms into a Gaming Metropolis
Beyond the arenas, the EWC Festival is turning Boulevard City into a hub of gaming culture, featuring:
- Fan zones
- Community tournaments
- Pop-up experiences
- Live concerts
Expect Riyadh to become a temporary global capital for gamers, fans, and digital creators alike.
🕹 Titles in Play: 24 Games, 25 Champions
EWC 2025 features 25 tournaments across 24 of the world’s most beloved esports titles, including:
- Apex Legends
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Call of Duty: Warzone
- Chess
- Counter-Strike 2
- Crossfire
- Dota 2
- EA FC 25
- Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves
- Free Fire
- Honor of Kings
- League of Legends
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (Men and Women)
- Overwatch 2
- PUBG MOBILE
- PUBG: Battlegrounds
- Rainbow Six Siege X
- RENNSPORT
- Rocket League
- Starcraft 2
- Street Fighter 6
- Teamfight Tactics
- Tekken 8
- Valorant
🔮 A Vision for the Future of Esports
At the event’s press conference, HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, emphasized Saudi Arabia’s ambition:
“This is a pivotal moment that will shape the future of esports and gaming. Hosting the EWC reflects our commitment to building a sustainable, world-class esports ecosystem under Vision 2030.”
Ralf Reichert, CEO of EWCF, added:
“Through record-breaking competition and global storytelling, this summer is not just for gamers—it’s for everyone.”
Faisal bin Homran, CPO of EWCF, echoed the long-term goal:
“We’re not just redefining esports—we’re unlocking opportunity, building legacies, and creating a new global sporting standard.”
📅 Stay Tuned
The Esports World Cup 2025 will run through August 24. For schedules, team standings, and live coverage, visit esportsworldcup.com and follow @EsportsWorldCup across all major social platforms.
