Esports World Cup Returns Bigger Than Ever - With $70M on the Line and a Vision for the Future
With global revenues of more than $4.3 billion and growing, competitive gaming has never had more momentum. What was a niche scene just a few decades ago has grown into a global entertainment powerhouse, broadcasting live matches to millions, packing stadiums and producing household names out of digital athletes.
But as esports matures, the conversation is shifting. It's no longer just about explosive growth or flashy prize pools – it's about building something that lasts for generations to come. And at the center of that conversation stands the Esports World Cup (EWC), returning this summer for its second edition in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with an even bigger mission and a record-breaking $70-million prize pool.
After a successful debut in 2024, the Esports World Cup is once again uniting top teams and players across 24 game titles, from esports staples like League of Legends and Counter-Strike to strategic newcomers like Chess. This year, the stakes are even higher – not only for the athletes competing but for the industry as a whole.
A centerpiece of the competition is the Club Championship, which rewards teams for strong performances across multiple titles throughout the seven-week event. It's a format that encourages versatility and long-term team strategy, not just one-off wins.
And it's not just prize money on the table. The EWC has also launched a $20-million Club Partner Program, supporting 40 esports organizations with funding for brand-building, content creation and fan engagement. Whether it's launching a new video series or building new communities around the world, the initiative is helping teams grow their presence well beyond the in-game action.
To capture the full story behind the spectacle, the Esports World Cup is also stepping into the spotlight with 'Esports World Cup: Level Up,' a five-part documentary series now streaming on Prime Video with all episodes available to binge beginning in July.
Directed by Emmy Award-winner R.J. Cutler (The September Issue, Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry), Level Up goes beyond the matches to follow the people behind them - players chasing their breakout moments, team CEOs making bold (and sometimes risky) roster decisions and coaches navigating the emotional highs and lows of the world's most dynamic new sport.
The series paints a vivid picture of what it takes to compete on the global stage - not just talent, but teamwork, sacrifice and belief.
The Esports World Cup is more than just another tournament. It's a platform for progress. It offers pros a path to career-defining prize money, gives teams new opportunities for growth and connects fans with deeper, richer stories from the games they love.
'Competing at the inaugural EWC contributed to one of the most successful competitive years in our 24-year history,' said Steve Arhancet, co-CEO of Team Liquid, which placed second in last year's Club Championship, taking home $4 million. 'With our winnings, we expanded into new games, strengthened our presence in Southeast Asia and supported philanthropic initiatives.'
With over 2,000 players expected to compete for a record-breaking $70-million prize pool, the 2025 EWC promises high drama, unforgettable moments and a clear signal that esports is ready to move forward - not just fast, but smart.
'While more than $70 million is an incredible sum, it's always aligned with a long-term vision rather than short-term impact,' said Ralf Reichert, CEO, Esports World Cup Foundation. 'It's not just to have more money at stake but to create opportunities for everyone at every level of the ecosystem and strengthen the industry for generations to come.'
The action kicks off July 7 and runs through August 24. Whether you're a lifelong fan or new to the scene, the Esports World Cup is your front-row ticket to where the future of competitive gaming is headed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Michael Barrymore diagnosed with epilepsy
Michael Barrymore has been diagnosed with epilepsy. The 73-year-old presenter has revealed he has developed the condition - a neurological disorder that causes recurring seizures due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain - after suffering a mini stroke. In an emotional TikTok video, he revealed: "A mini stroke caused me to develop epilepsy where I have uncontrollable seizures... I suffer from cluster seizures, which affects a quarter of people with epilepsy. It means I have more than one, usually three individual seizures in a short period of time." The former Strike It Lucky host admitted the condition can be "scary" and he is keen to connect with other sufferers. He continued: "It's scary because there's a 40% chance of going into epilepticus which causes brain damage and death without prompt medical attention. "I've had several attacks this year and have emergency medication at home if I go into a seizure. It doesn't really affect my life otherwise, but it would be nice to talk with other sufferers on here about it." The former Celebrity Big Brother runner-up was once one of the UK's most prolific and highest-paid television stars but has seen his TV career dwindle after being embroiled in a police investigation over the death of Stuart Lubbock, who passed away in 2001 aged 31 after attending a pool party at the broadcaster's Essex home. And Michael - who was never charged over the incident - previously claimed TV companies are not interested in hiring "innocent people". He told the Daily Star newspaper: 'It's strange that companies don't employ innocent people. Maybe you have to be guilty to get a job in television, I don't know. From my experience they don't employ innocent people. 'It's unfair, of course. It's terrible. You're supposed to support people. 'You're supposed to support the people that work for you. You're supposed to be caring. Michael admitted that it has 'taken' him more than two decades to 'build up' his confidence since he left television. He said: 'The amount of confidence you need to work the way I did at my peak was phenomenal and that took years to build up. When everything went my confidence was completely smashed. It has taken me 22 years to get that back.'
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Taylor Lautner Reveals If He's Team Conrad or Jeremiah & 'Twilight' Is The Reason for His Answer
Taylor Lautner Reveals If He's Team Conrad or Jeremiah & 'Twilight' Is The Reason for His Answer originally appeared on Parade. Actor Taylor Lautner, who famously played one of Bella Swan's (Kristen Stewart) romantic interests, Jacob Black, in the Twilight film franchise, is sharing his thoughts about another famous love triangle. While speaking to People magazine in August 2025, Lautner shared that he and his wife, Taylor Dome, watch the Prime series, The Summer I Turned Pretty, which premiered in 2022. The series follows Belly Conklin (Lola Tung) who's had romances with two brothers, Conrad (Christopher Briney) and Jeremiah Fisher (Gavin Casalegno), at different times. In the show's current third season, Belly is engaged to Jeremiah. However, she seems to still have feelings for Conrad, whom she dated for a few months about five years prior. Lautner referenced that fans of the series are divided into two camps, Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah, which is similar to how Twilight fans reacted to Bella's relationship with Jacob and her eventual husband, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson). Lautner said he wants Belly to end up with Jeremiah because he thinks the character is similar to Jacob. 'My wife watches that show religiously. I would be lying if I said I didn't ... I've been watching this current season with her, so it's been a fun thing. I don't think she's super excited about watching the show with me like she is with her friends, but I get it. I get it," said Lautner to People magazine. 'I feel like because of my roots, I have to be Team Jer. But that's just because I feel like I have to. I feel like [Jeremiah] resonates a lot with Jacob. I know that'll irritate a lot, a lot of fans.' Lautner then shared he thinks his wife wants Conrad and Belly to end up together. 'I think my wife may be on the other team, and that makes sense because she was Team Edward as well,' said Lautner. During a July 2025 interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, alongside Casalegno and Briney, Tong discussed the fans' response to Belly's love life. She said fans will often tell her if they are on Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah. She also clarified that she is "Team Belly, always." "I'm all for her following her heart and what she needs to do in the moment," said Tong during the interview. Taylor Lautner Reveals If He's Team Conrad or Jeremiah & 'Twilight' Is The Reason for His Answer first appeared on Parade on Aug 16, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 16, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
Forbes
6 hours ago
- Forbes
‘Betty La Fea' S2: Ana María Orozco, Jorge Enrique Abello Talk What To Expect
Betty la Fea: La Historia Continúa — Prime Video's global smash series, the sequel based on the hit late 1990s Colombian telenovela — returns for its highly anticipated second season, upping the stakes for its leading protagonists. The story picks up with Betty (Ana María Orozco) facing difficult choices about herself, her family and the future of Ecomoda — where she has returned as president. She makes another life-changing decision regarding Armando (Jorge Enrique Abello), who she admits is the love of her life, and continues her efforts to reconnect and build a stronger relationship with her daughter Mila (Juanita Molina), who is herself recovering from a romantic disappointment and betrayal. For Orozco and Abello, the revival is both joyful and challenging, as they ensure the show remains true to the essence of the story that audiences remember and love. "We're very pleased to return with this story that needed new chapters for fans around the world," says Abello. A Record-Breaking Return The return resulted in a record-shattering first season, with the largest global viewership for a Latin American title in Prime Video history and the most‑watched series or movie of all time on Prime Video in Colombia. The success was driven by nostalgia, curiosity around what happened to the beloved characters, and most of the original actors reprising their roles, with on-set chemistry and camaraderie enriched by time. "Reuniting with Jorge and the entire cast is a joy," says Orozco. "They're all wonderful actors. We have a lot of fun working, and we bring out the best in each other. Everyone contributes so much and the magic truly happens on set." Both stars now serve as associate producers and describe their role as guiding the spirit of the show — making sure the show's direction stays aligned with Betty's true essence, while big decisions remain a broader team effort. Streaming Format, Timeless Appeal The sequel's streaming-first format gives the 21st century series momentum without straying far from its origins. Abello contrasts the original telenovela pacing with the new version's episode length. "We always did 30-minute episodes where nothing and a lot of things happened, because the arcs would take 20 or 30 episodes to unfold so there could be real transformations within the narrative…. Now we have the same time but with greater punch." Orozco agrees. "Everything is tighter, more to the point…there are things you won't see but are told another way." Strategic flashbacks help old audiences remember and new ones catch up with history that provides context to the current story. Female empowerment anchors the narrative, reframing beauty, success and staying true to oneself. Orozco frames Betty's most visible transformation from Season 1 — abandoning a polished image to return to her original appearance — as a deeply personal reckoning. "The glasses and the look symbolize going back to her essence, back to herself," Orozco explains. "She's wondering whether the polished path she took was faithful to who she is, or a response to external pressures and a search for social approval from Armando's world. She's at a point in life where certain events trigger a crisis where those questions surface." But she isn't the only one doing some introspection as Armando's world crumbles under the weight of poor life decisions. "I don't know if Armando has fully evolved," admits Abello. "Armando is a product of a society where the discourse completely changed for men — where everything you've done from the past until now is wrong, so you have to reinvent yourself... He's trying to learn a language of norms he never grew up with, one his upbringing didn't prepare him for, which leads to mistakes and a real sense that he doesn't know where he belongs." Those internal questions intersect with the show's larger themes. The series continues to address female empowerment and the tension between change and continuity. Even as beauty standards and workplace culture have evolved over time, some negative attitudes persist. There are still characters who call Betty ugly, reflecting real-world resistance to change. At the end of the first season, Mila discovered she was used to bring down Ecomoda — her own family's company — by a vengeful member of Marcela's (Natalia Ramírez) family. She also found Betty's younger‑self diary detailing the painful past with Armando before his change of heart and her mother's forgiveness. Furious yet newly empathetic, Mila — strong, sometimes snobby, once dismissive of her mother — now understands Betty more and is determined to help her be happy again, away from her father, who is now on her blacklist. Betty, torn between her daughter's expectations and her enduring love for Armando, wants to reconcile her family and find a way to save Ecomoda from bankruptcy, a takeover, and legal consequences tied to Armando's failed investments during the pandemic. Armando, meanwhile, struggles with his own reinvention, burdened by his father's shadow and a need to prove he can be better for his family and everyone who depends on the company. "I feel we've done a great, conscientious job, with a lot of love, and we've had fun—and that will surely come through," Orozco says of the new season, which she hopes gets picked up for a third installment. The series is produced by RCN Estudios and written by Marta Betoldi (Ciega a Citas), César Betancur (Rigo), Valeria Gómez (Manes), and Luis Carlos Ávila (La Reina del Flow), and directed by Mauricio Cruz Fortunato (Manes). Season 2 is executive produced by Yalile Giordanelli (Ana de Nadie), Alexander Marín, VP of Distribution at RCN Estudios, and Juan Pablo Posada (Manes), RCN Estudios production VP. Betty la Fea: La Historia Continúa premieres today, August 15, exclusively on Prime Video in over 240 countries and territories. The new season has 10 episodes, with two released each week.
