Esports World Cup 2025 kicks off in Riyadh

The wait is over. Esports World Cup 2025 is finally commencing today.

As Saudi solidifies its status as the global gaming hub, the Esports World Cup 2025 starts in Riyadh today, July 8 and runs for seven weeks, culminating in a grand finale on August 24 at Boulevard City.

This year’s tournament will feature exciting new challenges and larger prizes, making it a must-watch for gaming enthusiasts worldwide.

More than 2,000 professional gamers and over 200 top clubs from more than 100 countries will compete in 25 challenges across 24 games for a staggering prize pool of USD$70 million.

The prize pool is allocated across various categories:

Club Championship: USD$27 million for the top 16 clubs, with the winning club taking home USD$7 million.

Individual Tournaments: USD$38 million, with the best player receiving USD$450,000.

The EWC 2025 will feature both classic and new games, including shooting games, battle royale, fighting games, and strategy games.

Fan favourites like DOTA 2, Call of Duty, League of Legends will return, while new additions like Chess, Crossfire, Fatal Fury, and Valorant will raise the excitement.

Matches will be held in four dedicated halls, each focusing on a single sport, to enhance the viewing experience.

The match schedule has been modified to avoid overlapping between competitions, and the weekends have been designated for the finals.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the Global Ambassador of Esports World Cup 2025

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has declared football legend Cristiano Ronaldo as the Global Ambassador of the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025.

As one of the most celebrated international athletes of all time, Ronaldo’s appointment as the Ambassador of the Esports World Cup 2025 further cements EWC’s position as one of the most prestigious global sporting events. 

As a five-time Ballon d’Or winner, the football legend’s stature transcends traditional sports, uniting sports fans across the world irrespective of the form of game.

Thanks to his following of over one billion, Ronaldo’s presence will help in expanding the reach of Esports to a new global audience as well as all ages.

He also stars as a playable character in FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves, one of the 25 tournament titles in this year’s Esports World Cup games lineup.

Heroes Club: an exclusive programme for Esports World Cup 2025 winners

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has just introduced the Heroes Club – a year long VIP pass exclusively for Esports World Cup champions.

It’s a gateway for the winners to rub shoulders with celebs, industry heavyweights, and unlock off stage perks. With EWC 2025 touting a record smashing US$70 million+ prize pool, the Heroes Club is the perfect afterparty, brimming with lifestyle upgrades and career boosts.

With the Heroes Club, victors receive a personalised card, concierge support and VIP concierge access, private digital platform for exclusive invites and early game access, premium hospitality at marquee events like Super Bowl, F1, and UEFA Champions League; and travel perks and first dibs on new game titles.

A recap of last year’s Esports World Cup            

Last year’s Esports Championship crown went to Saudi’s Team Falcons after collecting 5,665 points and achieving three tournament victories which earned them USD$7 million.

Team Liquid and Team BDS came in second and third place, each team collecting 2,545 and 2,000 points, respectively.

More than 500 million people watched the matches online, while Boulevard City witnessed an influx of 2.6 million fans over the tournament’s duration.

Source: TimesOut
--Agencies