Competitive gaming is reaching new heights

CNN

4 days ago

The Esports World Cup (EWC) is back—and bigger than ever. This year, a slice of a record-breaking $70m prize pool is at stake for the players and clubs that rise to the top.
Having kicked off in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on July 7, more than 2,000 players and 200 clubs have gathered for this year's edition of the world's biggest multi-game esports championships, competing across 25 tournaments and 24 games until the finale on August 24.
Artist Post Malone—who has deep connections with the community, with music and event collaborations in a variety of games—headlined the opening ceremony on July 10. 'Esports is becoming a global cultural force, where music, storytelling, and competition converge to create moments that are not just seen, but felt,' said Mike McCabe, chief operating officer of the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF), which launched EWC Music this year to create an original music identity for the competition.
It's gaming and esports fused with culture and entertainment on a global scale, culminating in the crowning of the single best club in the world across all these disciplines.
Ralf Reichert, CEO, Esports World Cup Foundation
As global esports revenues are projected to hit $4.8bn in 2025, Saudi Arabia is rapidly emerging as a center for this booming industry. Home to 23.5m gamers—approximately 67% of the population—the Kingdom is capitalizing on its state-of-the-art infrastructure, youthful population, and world-class tournaments to position itself as a global hub for esports excellence.
Life-changing prizes for the world's best gamers
At the heart of this year's competition is the EWC Club Championship, which pits the world's top esports clubs against one another as they fight to win part of the $27m prize pool on offer.
In a cumulative points-based system, participating clubs compete across multiple games throughout the world cup. The winning club—which will take home a grand prize of $7m—will be crowned based on consistent high performance across titles.
A first in the competitive esports world, this structure requires clubs to be strategic in their approach to the competition as a whole, managing rosters and resources across various games to demonstrate organizational strength.
The remaining $43m from the total prize pool will be divided between winners of each game championship, the Most Valuable Player Awards, and qualifiers on the Road to EWC, where teams and players compete for the remaining tournament spots through eligible events hosted by partnered publishers and organizers.
This is all part of the EWCF's mission to support the gaming industry into the future. 'The record-breaking $70m prize pool, along with our commitment to the Club Partner Program and our multi-year publisher agreements, are aligned with a long-term vision rather than short-term impact,' said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the EWCF. '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.'
This year, the EWCF's Club Partner Program plans to invest $20m into participating clubs—selected for their competitive performance, social media presence, and audience engagement—to activate their brands and grow their fanbases, with the aim of supporting the growth of esports around the world.
'The EWCF Club Partner Program is a cornerstone of our mission to build a sustainable future for esports clubs worldwide while creating opportunities for organizations from some of the world's fastest-growing markets.
Faisal bin Homran, chief product officer, Esports World Cup Foundation
This year's winners will also reap the rewards of the EWCF's newly launched Heroes Club, a year-long VIP program for EWC champions. The program includes premium hospitality at global sports and entertainment events such as the Super Bowl, Formula 1, and UEFA Champions League Finals, travel benefits with partnered brands, and early access to new games.
'It's about going beyond victory, giving EWC champions the tools to grow their profiles, unlocking a new world full of opportunities and extending their impact beyond the main stage,' explained Faisal bin Homran, Chief Product Officer, Esports World Cup Foundation.
'By investing in players at every stage of their journey, we are reinforcing the role of esports as a global sport and a viable career path for generations to come.
Faisal bin Homran, chief product officer, Esports World Cup Foundation
A major player in the future of esports
The esports industry is on a meteoric rise, experiencing unprecedented growth in both competitor and viewership numbers alongside big-ticket sponsorship opportunities.
In Saudi Arabia, where gaming has evolved beyond a hobby into a thriving industry, the gaming and esports market is projected to generate $13.3bn by 2030. The Kingdom has already invested over $38bn into the sector, and now aims to create 39,000 local jobs in areas like game development and event management.
With over 500m online viewers and 2.6m visitors to Riyadh's Boulevard City in 2024, the inaugural competition was just the beginning. As the EWC scales new heights this year, Saudi Arabia is rapidly positioning itself as a global esports powerhouse, poised to shape the future of gaming for generations to come.
Find out more about the Esports World Cup here.