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Esports World Cup: 6 Facts to Impress Your Friends With

The world of esports is becoming more and more mainstream each year, and the Esports World Cup (EWC) is the icing on the cake for gaming fans.

Returning to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 to August 24, the EWC 2025 is a sprawling festival of all esports, with the world’s best players slugging it out for the biggest prize pool in history.

As the anticipation raises, let's delve into six of the most interesting facts that set EWC 2025 apart.

1. A huge prize pool

The EWC 2025 brings a huge prize pool, exceeding $70 million, beating last year’s pot by $10 million.

This sum reflects the surging investment in esports, as it continues to be a global phenomenon. It also dwarfs other esports events, like Dota 2's "The International", which has gone the other way, dropping from $40 million in 2021 to ‘only’ $2.3 million last year.

The distribution of the EWC’s pool is worth nothing. $27 million is earmarked for the EWC Club Championship, a unique cross-game competition that rewards overall organizational performance. The remaining funds are spread across the individual game championships (over $38 million), qualifiers ($5 million+), and MVP awards ($450,000).

This multi-tiered reward system means winners are nicely rewarded, but also that there is a huge financial incentive for players across the competition. Winning at any event is enough to set a player up for life.

2. 25 tournaments across 24 game titles

The EWC 2025 has the largest game selection in esport tournament history. Fan favorites like Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, League of Legends, VALORANT, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and Rocket League will return, together with the new additions like Chess.

This strategic game makes its historic debut with a $1.5 million prize pool, attracting grandmasters like Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura, who have signed with prominent esports organizations. Other fresh faces include Crossfire and Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves.

Traditional strategy games like chess along with the high-octane action titles show how organizers aim to mix up the interest in their event.

With all the online debate that’s worthy to follow, it's a bold statement about the expanding definition of what constitutes an "esport".

3. Major new partnerships

The EWC 2025 is part of a broader vision for the sustainable growth of the esports industry, where partnerships play a big part.

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has entered into multi-year publisher agreements with major game developers such as Riot Games, Activision, and Capcom. These deals provide resources and stability to existing esports circuits, not to mention clear new pathways for players reaching the EWC.

EWCF’s Club Partner Program is also investing a total of $20 million into the esports ecosystem. This program provides base funding to partnered clubs, so they can expand their reach, strengthen their brands, and engage with fans.

A long-term impact of this investment is likely to be felt across the sports and in future tournaments, where the standard will surely get even better.

4. The Club Championship format

Esports community isn´t only about individuals anymore. Unlike the traditional tournaments, the EWC introduces a points-based system that crowns an overall "Club Champion". The organizations compete across multiple game titles, earning points for high placements and tournament wins. A club must demonstrate excellence across at least two tournaments, securing a top eight finish in both and winning at least one, to claim the crown.

Esports organizations have thus adapted their strategies to win this. They build diverse listings capable of competing at the highest level across various genres, from MOBAs and the first-person shooters to fighting games and even chess.

Inter-club rivalry has become a thing, adding to the narratives surrounding the event, and making it even more watchable than ever before.

5. 50,000 square meters in the heart of Riyadh

For the second consecutive year, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, serves as the host city for the Esports World Cup.

The tournament is part of the country’s drive to become known as the global esports hub, where organizers receive massive financial support from the government’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) as part of its Vision 2030.

The investment helps to transform Riyadh into a vibrant "gaming festival", with more than 50,000 square meters of space, including arenas, stages for live entertainment, and interactive fan experience areas.

However, the choice of the host city does create some nuances for attendees to consider. Esports betting is a growing part of the industry, but this will not be tolerated in Riyadh, where all forms of gambling, including horse racing and online casinos, are against the law. There will also be no alcohol on sale at the event due to its prohibition.

Yet, the choice of Riyadh as the recurring venue shows how important it has become for the esports scene to provide the infrastructure for a truly world-class show.

6. Watch out for the party!

The EWC 2025 will be a celebration of esports fandom, not just exceptional player ability.
The event is characterized by a "festival" atmosphere, with various on-the-ground activities and live entertainment. The finals are scheduled for weekends to maximize viewership, while the last-chance qualifiers provide extra opportunities for teams to secure their spot.

This is a deliberate effort to bridge the gap between traditional sports and esports, known for the carnival atmosphere that accompanies the Olympics and FIFA World Cups.

The Esports World Cup 2025 will be a landmark event, not just for its record-breaking scale and prize money, but for its competitive structure and diverse game lineup.

As the world turns its eyes to Riyadh once again, expecting to see some top-tier clashes and memories made that will last a lifetime.