Record-breaking Esports World Cup 2025 launches in Riyadh: All you need to know

Al Arabiya

2 days ago

Riyadh has officially kicked off the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC), transforming Saudi Arabia's capital city into the world's largest gaming festival.
Running from July 8 to August 24, the event features over 2,000 professional gamers and 200 clubs competing across 25 titles for an unprecedented prize pool exceeding $70 million.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the 2025 EWC – hosted under the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and National Gaming & Esports Strategy – marks the largest gathering in esports history.
Over seven weeks, gamers from more than 100 countries will compete in 26 events spanning 25 different esports disciplines.
Record-setting prize pool
The 2025 edition features a record-setting prize pool structure.
Of the total $70 million in prize money, $27 million is allocated for the Club Championship, with $7 million going to the top-performing team.
Game-specific tournaments will distribute more than $38 million among players, while an additional $5 million is set aside for qualifiers and $450,000 for MVP awards, according to official organizers.
New titles, major expansions
New titles and major expansions are drawing attention this year.
Chess makes its debut in the tournament with a $1.5 million prize pool, with global grandmasters like Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura expected to compete.
Other new games joining the lineup include Valorant, Crossfire, and Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, alongside returning titles such as Dota 2, League of Legends, Counter-Strike 2, and Free Fire.
Global stars take part
Adding to the tournament's growing mainstream appeal is the involvement of international celebrities.
Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo was announced in June as the event's global ambassador.
The highly anticipated opening ceremony on July 10 is expected to feature global artists including Post Malone, K-pop star DINO from SEVENTEEN, and DJ Alesso, highlighting the crossover between entertainment and esports.
The Esports World Cup will be broadcast worldwide across YouTube, Twitch, and game publisher platforms, along with original behind-the-scenes content.
This approach aims to offer a dynamic viewing experience for both hardcore fans and newcomers to the esports scene.
A global hub for gaming
At the official launch event, Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, emphasized the Kingdom's long-term commitment to building a global esports ecosystem.
'The Esports World Cup is not just a tournament – it is a platform that aligns with our Vision 2030 goals, promoting economic diversification and positioning Saudi Arabia as a leader in the gaming and entertainment industries,' he said.
As part of broader strategic ambitions, the Kingdom recently signed a 12-year agreement with the International Olympic Committee to host the Olympic Esports Games starting in 2027.
The deal cements Saudi Arabia's status as a global player in digital sports innovation and infrastructure.
Visitor experiences
In addition to the competitions, the Esports World Cup features immersive cultural and entertainment experiences.
Visitors can explore anime cafés, retro arcades, cosplay zones, and take part in curated tours to Saudi heritage destinations such as Diriyah's At-Turaif district and AlUla.
These offerings aim to boost tourism and cultural exchange while drawing a more diverse audience to the event.
Last year's edition of the Esports World Cup attracted 2.6 million in-person attendees and more than 500 million online viewers.
Organizers expect the 2025 event to surpass those figures.