The Esports World Cup (EWC) is the largest annual esports tournament in the world, hosted by the non-profit Esports World Cup Foundation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The competition features a cross-game club championship format: top esports organizations—referred to as “Clubs”—compete across multiple video game titles. Points are tallied across all games, and the highest-performing Club earns the prestigious Esports World Cup Club Champion title Esports World Cup.
EWC 2025 Highlights
When & Where: Held July 7 to August 24, 2025 at Boulevard City, Riyadh.
Scale: Involves 2,000 elite players from over 200 Clubs representing more than 100 countries.
Games & Events: Features 25 tournaments across 24 titles, including new additions like chess (with grandmasters competing), Valorant, Crossfire, and Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves.
Prize Pool: Record-breaking total of over $70 million—the highest in esports history.
Includes $27M for Club Championship
$38M for individual Game Championships
$5M+ for qualifiers
$450K for MVP Awards.
Festivals & Entertainment
In addition to competition, EWC 2025 is a gaming and cultural festival, covering over 50,000 m² with community tournaments, live music, anime cafés, cosplay zones, retro arcades, and more.
Celebrities and VIPs are part of the experience—Cristiano Ronaldo serves as the event's global ambassador, and music acts have included Post Malone among others.
Notable Moments
Chess Debut: A highlight was the chess tournament, where Magnus Carlsen won the title, earning $250K in front of a record-setting online audience.
Valorant Results: At the Valorant tournament, Team Heretics defeated Fnatic 3–2, marking the first Valorant crown in EWC history.
Why It Matters
The Esports World Cup isn’t just a tournament—it’s a strategic showcase for Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, aimed at positioning the kingdom as a global esports and entertainment hub.
Club Selection & Eligibility
Club Partner Program
- Esports organizations—called Clubs—can join the EWC Club Partner Program, which offers financial support and strategic resources. In 2025, a total of 40 clubs were selected, based on competitive history, brand presence, and fan engagement.
Qualification to Compete
- Being part of the Club Partner Program doesn’t guarantee a spot in the EWC tournaments. Every Club must still qualify for each game through official pathways.
Qualification Pathways: "Road to the EWC"
A global qualifying series called "Road to EWC" offers players and teams worldwide the opportunity to qualify:
More than 200 tournaments held globally—from grassroots to high-level competitions.
Players from all skill levels, amateurs to pros, can participate and earn their way to the finals.
Game-Specific Qualifiers:
Publisher Leagues: Big titles like League of Legends, Valorant, Overwatch 2, and Apex Legends require qualification through official circuits like LEC, VCT, OWCS, and ALGS.
Open and Regional Qualifiers: Games such as Dota 2, Teamfight Tactics, and StarCraft II use open online qualifiers; mobile titles rely on regional leagues to select representatives.
Community & Last-Chance Qualifiers: Fighting games like Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, and Fatal Fury depend on community events such as EVO Japan or Combo Breaker. Last Chance Qualifiers are also held before the main event for final entries.
Example: League of Legends & Teamfight Tactics
League of Legends (LoL):
- Qualification was based on performance in the 2025 Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) and regional leagues.
- Qualified teams included MSI finishing teams and defending champions.
Teamfight Tactics (TFT):
- Out of 16 teams:
Defending champions received automatic entry.
Spots allocated through Asian Champions League qualifiers, as well as Americas, EMEA, Asia-Pacific, and global qualifiers.
Summary – Player Entry Roadmap
Step | Process |
|---|---|
1 | Clubs apply/join the Club Partner Program (financial support only) |
2 | Players/teams compete in game-specific qualification routes (publisher leagues, open qualifiers, regional/community events, last-chance qualifiers) |
3 | Qualified participants enter game tournaments at EWC in Riyadh |
4 | Performance earns points toward Club Championship and qualifies for further tournaments |
The EWC blends elite esports competition with cultural celebration, delivering record-breaking prizes, diverse disciplines, and a mega-festival atmosphere. It’s one of the most ambitious and influential esports events ever.
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