Latest news with #EWC2025
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Esports World Cup 2025: Arslan Ash qualifies for Tekken, set to battle for $1 million prize
Listen to article Pakistani esports sensation Arslan Ash has secured his place in the Tekken 8 tournament at the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, reinforcing his status as one of the world's top Tekken players. The EWC, running from July 7 to August 24, will feature 25 esports titles and over 2,000 competitors from more than 200 clubs, competing for a record-breaking $70 million prize pool. The Tekken 8 event, set for August 14 to 16, will see 32 elite players battle for a $1 million prize fund. Pakistan's Arslan Ash has officially qualified to TEKKEN 8 in ESports World Cup! 🚨🇵🇰⭐️ Make us proud, @ArslanAsh95! — Muneeb Farrukh (@Muneeb313_) May 25, 2025 Arslan Ash, a five-time EVO champion with titles including EVO Japan 2019, EVO 2019, EVO Japan 2023, EVO 2023, and EVO 2024, continues to dominate the Tekken scene despite past challenges such as visa issues that forced him to withdraw from events like Evo Japan and Riyadh Clash 2025. His qualification for the EWC 2025 highlights his ongoing commitment to maintaining Pakistan's presence on the international esports stage. Arslan Ash's reputation as a fierce competitor is well-established, and his participation is highly anticipated by fans worldwide. The Esports World Cup promises seven weeks of high-level competition across multiple games, with Tekken 8 among the most eagerly watched. Arslan Ash's success at international tournaments, including recent appearances at Combo Breaker 2025 in Schaumburg, further cements his position as a global esports icon. At Combo Breaker, he placed joint fifth in Tekken 8 among a field featuring top players from around the world. I am happy with the result. Thanks for the support 🙏 — Twis | Arslan Ash (@ArslanAsh95) May 25, 2025 As the esports community looks ahead to the EWC 2025, Arslan Ash remains a standout figure whose journey continues to inspire gamers in Pakistan and beyond.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
All you need to know about Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ), the final qualification path for chess at Esports World Cup 2025
The 'Last Chance Qualifier' LCQ — the final qualification path for chess at the Esports World Cup (EWC) — has been announced recently, as the Dreamhack Dallas 2025 event will act as the LCQ, filling up the last four spots for the EWC 2025. The DreamHack festival, set to happen from May 23 to 23 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Centre in Dallas, is an open-to-all event where any professional or amateur player can participate and confirm their spot for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's capital city, where the EWC 2025 will take place. Earlier, 12 players were finalised in the EWC roster for chess through the two-leg Champions Chess Tour 2025. Five-time world champion and world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, world No. 3 and popular Twitch and YouTube streamer Hikaru Nakamura and reigning co-world blitz champion Ian Nepomniachtchi qualified for EWC after finishing in the top three of CCT's first event, the Chessable Masters, which was played in February. Nine other players, including India's Arjun Erigaisi — the only player from this country — confirmed their spots through the second leg of CCT, the Classic 2025. R. Praggnanandhaa missed out on qualification just by a whisker, and alongside him, players like Aravindh Chithambaram and Nihal Sarin — both of whom signed with an Indian Esports organisation, S8UL — and current world champion D. Gukesh might try their luck to qualify for the lucrative EWC through the LCQ. The EWC will offer prize money of $1.5 million (12.8 cr) with a time control set to be 10 minutes for the entire game with no increment(10+0). What is the Esports World Cup? The Esports World Cup brings together top esports clubs across 24 popular titles. EWC 2025 will run in Riyadh from July 7 to August 24, featuring chess as an online event for the first time. The inaugural 2024 edition spanned eight weeks, while the 2025 event will be history's largest multi-title esports tournament with 2,000+ players, 200+ teams, and a $70 million (≈₹602 crore) prize pool. How can one register and participate in LCQ?
News18
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
S8UL Signs North America's Leading Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Roster Ahead Of Esports World Cup 2025
Last Updated: S8UL becomes the first Indian organisation to sign a top MLBB roster, already qualified for EWC 2025 with a $3M prize pool. The team has earned $150K in winnings so far. S8UL Esports, a global powerhouse in esports and gaming content, has officially acquired the renowned North American Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) team formerly known as BloodThirstyKings (BTK). With this move, S8UL makes a historic entry into the MLBB competitive circuit, becoming the first Indian organisation to sign a top-tier international MLBB roster ahead of the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025 and other major tournaments. The roster joining S8UL comprises: Michael 'MobaZane" Cosgun Ian 'FwydChickn" Hohl Jang 'Hoon" Seong-hun Ziameth-Jei 'ZIA" Caluya Vo 'Shark" Trung Carlos 'Bestplayer1" Ortega Vega Founded in 2020, BTK rose to international prominence after their third-place finish at the MLBB M3 World Championship, where they notably defeated the Filipino powerhouse Blacklist International, taking home $80,000 (INR 68.4 lakh). Since then, the team has been a consistent force in North America's MLBB ecosystem, with multiple regional championship wins and strong global performances to their name. The roster officially qualified for the MLBB Mid Season Cup (MSC) at the upcoming EWC 2025 following a dominant run in the recently concluded North America Challenger Tournament (NACT) Spring Season, where they defeated Area 77 in the Grand Finals with a 4-2 scoreline. With players who have competed across multiple MLBB world championships, S8UL's newest roster brings immense experience and proven ability to perform under pressure. This acquisition marks a milestone moment for Indian esports, positioning S8UL at the forefront of global competition in one of the world's most watched mobile esports titles. Animesh Agarwal, aka 8Bit Thug, Co-founder and CEO of S8UL, commented, 'We're committing to MLBB in a big way — becoming a partnered organization and aligning closely with the S8UL vision, with the legendary Michael 'MobaZane' Cosgun leading the charge. As a mobile-first org, MLBB holds a special place for us — it's the only mobile title among the eight games we're part of. The game's growth in India is promising, and we're excited to contribute to its rise by working closely with key Indian stakeholders. This is just the beginning of what we aim to build with MLBB." The team's previous accolades include a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Gaimin Gladiators in the NACT Spring Finals and an unforgettable reverse sweep against Cloud9 in the NACT Fall 2024 Grand Finals, turning a 0-3 deficit into a thrilling 4-3 win. That comeback secured their place at the M6 World Championship, where they went on to finish in the top 10. Collectively, the roster has earned close to $150,000 (approx. INR 1.2 crore) in prize winnings, establishing themselves as one of the most accomplished MLBB teams in North America. 'We've been on a long journey together, from grassroots tournaments to the world stage, and every chapter has shaped who we are as a team. Joining S8UL feels like the beginning of something bigger than just competition. It's about aligning with an organisation that understands not just the game, but the grind, the setbacks, and the stories that build champions. We're not here just to play, we're here to evolve, to represent, and to create a legacy that goes beyond titles and trophies. With S8UL behind us, we now have the platform to take that next big leap," said team captain Michael Cosgun aka MobaZane. According to data from Esports Charts, MLBB is the world's most popular esports game in 2025, with a peak viewership of 2.7 million. The M6 World Championship held last year recorded an impressive peak viewership of 4.13 million and maintained an average viewership of 709,000 across its 120-hour broadcast, making it one of the largest and most-watched esports tournaments of 2024. At EWC 2025, 16 of the world's top MLBB teams will compete in double elimination group stages and best-of-5 knockout rounds which will culminate in a best-of-7 grand final. With a $3,000,000 (approx. INR 25.6 crore) prize pool on the line, this year's MSC is set to be one of the biggest mobile esports events in history. S8UL's MLBB roster brings a balanced mix of experience and synergy across all roles. MobaZane leads as the Jungler, with FwydChickn in the EXP Lane and Hoon anchoring the Mid Lane. ZIA handles the Gold Lane, while Shark plays Roamer, driving team engagements. Bestplayer1 adds depth as a second Jungler, offering strategic flexibility for different matchups. With this announcement, S8UL has now unveiled rosters across seven different titles for EWC 2025. The lineups are as follows: Apex Legends: Rick Wirth (Sharky), Benjamin Spaseski (Jesko) and Tom Canty (Legacy) Call of Duty: Warzone: Colin Bowers-Wilson (Trikempathy), Braxton Trice (Braxtvn), and Ryder Skarzinski (Ryda) Chess: Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram EAFC25: Jonas Wirth (Jonny) and Aaron Rivera (Happy) Mobile Legends Bang Bang: Michael Cosgun (MobaZane), Ian Hohl (FwydChickn), Jang Seong-hun (Hoon), Ziameth-Jei Caluya (ZIA), Vo Trung (Shark), and Carlos Ortega Vega (Bestplayer1) top videos View all Starcraft II: Pyung Jae Koh (GuMiho) tags : esports Location : Mumbai, India, India First Published: May 17, 2025, 11:34 IST News sports S8UL Signs North America's Leading Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Roster Ahead Of Esports World Cup 2025
Saudi Gazette
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Saudi Gazette
Esports World Cup 2025 offers record $70 million prize pool
The ES TIMES — The Esports World Cup returns to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 to August 24, 2025, with the largest prize pool in esports history — over $70 million (SR262,785,040.00). Ticket sales for this highly anticipated event are now open. The event is organized by the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF). Following the success of the first 2024 edition, the second edition reinforces EWCF's position as the world's premier platform for the growth and development of the esports industry. This prize money represents an increase of $10 million / (SR37,540,720.00) compared to last year and underscores the foundation's long-standing commitment to creating sustainable career paths for gamers and supporting the development of multidisciplinary esports clubs. Ralf Reichert, CEO of the EWCF, said: "This record-breaking prize and our continued investments through our club partnership program and collaborations with publishers underscore our mission to provide long-term stability and opportunities within the ecosystem. While the $70+ million figure is impressive, our goal goes beyond numbers – we are building a strong and solid foundation for the future for everyone." 25 Tournaments, 24 Games, and Over 2,000 Players EWC 2025 will feature a total of 25 tournaments across 24 different games, with over 2,000 elite players and 200 leading clubs participating, in the largest multi-sport competition in esports history. Four new games have been added to the roster: Chess, Crossfire, FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves, and VALORANT. The New Global Sport Conference Returns The unique EWC Club Championship will allocate $27 million / ( SR101,359,944.00) of the total prize pool to the top 16 clubs based on their overall performance. The top club will win $7 million / (SR26,278,504.00).The remaining prize pool will be distributed among the gaming tournaments, with a total prize pool of over $38 million / (SR142,654,736.00), the MVP prize pool worth $450,000 / (SR1,689,332.40), and the Road to EWC qualifiers worth over $5 million (SR18,770,360.00), giving players and teams multiple opportunities to win and 2024 edition saw over 500 million online viewers and 2.6 million physical visitors to Boulevard City. Team Falcons excelled, winning the Club Championship with 5,665 points, ahead of Team Liquid and Team BDS. Mosaad Al-Dossary, CEO of Team Falcons, said: 'Winning our first title in front of our fans was unforgettable. The energy inside the arenas was unparalleled. That victory gave us momentum, and we are ready to build on it in 2025.' Steve Arhancet, Co-CEO of Team Liquid, added: 'EWC 2024 was one of the most successful years in our competitive history. The wins helped us expand into new games like Chess, strengthen our presence in Southeast Asia, and support charitable initiatives. EWC 2025 could be our golden moment.'The current lineup of EWC 2025 games includes: Apex Legends, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Call of Duty: Warzone, Chess, Counter-Strike 2, Crossfire, Dota 2, EA Sports FC 25, FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves, Free Fire, Honor of Kings, League of Legends, Mobile Legends Bang Bang, Overwatch 2, PUBG BATTLEGROUNDS, PUBG Mobile, Rainbow Six Siege X, Rennsport, Rocket League, Starcraft II, Rennsport, Tekken 8, Street Fighter 6, Teamfight Tactics, and EWCF has also announced expanded partnerships with major publishers such as Riot Games, Activision, and Capcom to support external tournaments and strengthen the global esports ecosystem. These partnerships will provide new ways for players to access the World Cup through official, sanctioned tournaments. The EWCF Club Partner Program has expanded to 40 EWCF Club Partner Program, designed to support clubs with the resources needed to enhance their global presence, now includes 40 leading organizations, including: 100 Thieves, All Gamers, Bilibili Gaming, Cloud9, Edward Gaming, EVOS, FaZe Clan, Fnatic, FURIA, G2 Esports, Gaimin Gladiators, Gen.G, Gentle Mates, HEROIC, JD Gaming, Karmine Corp., Movistar KOI, LEVIATAN, LOUD, MOUZ, NAVI, ONIC, POWR, REJECT, S8UL, Sentinels, T1, Team BDS, Team Falcons, Team Liquid, Team RRQ, Team Secret, Team Spirit, Team Vitality, Twisted Minds, Weibo Gaming, Wolves Esports, and ZETA DIVISION. In parallel with the competitions, The New Global Sport Conference will return to Riyadh on August 23 and 24, 2025, during the closing weekend of the EWC. The event will bring together 1,500 global leaders in esports, gaming, traditional sports, entertainment, and technology to discuss the future of sports and innovation internationally. This East-West event aims to accelerate global collaboration within the sector. For more details:
Indian Express
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘It creates mess for Esports World Cup qualification': Anish Giri questions lineup for Champions Chess Tour; advocates for separate EWC qualifier event
Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri questioned the lineup for the upcoming Champions Chess Tour (CCT) and advocated for a separate qualifier event for the Esports World Cup (EWC) qualification. His response came after announced that Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura and Ian Nepomniachtchi — the three already qualified players for EWC 2025 set to happen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, later this year — will feature in the second (and last) CCT event, named Classic. The two-legged CCT is acting as a qualifier pathway for EWC, where a total of 12 players will qualify from these events. Four more players will qualify through the Last Chance Qualifier event later. Anish took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, 'I understand that you want the big stars in the Champions Tour event, but it creates a mess for Esports World Cup qualification, since they have already qualified. I think the CCTour and EWC qualifiers should be separate events. What do you guys think?' wrote Anish. I understand that you want the big stars in the Champions Tour event, but it creates a mess for Esports World Cup qualification, since they have already qualified. I think the CCTour and EWC qualifiers should be separate events. What do you guys think? — Anish Giri (@anishgiri) May 6, 2025 The former World No. 3 opened a string of conversation, asking for opinions. Story continues below this ad Daniel Rensch, Chief Chess Officer and the face of welcomed the changes, citing Anish's criticism as 'fair'. He replied, 'While I'd say the twitterverse is often biased (whether they realize it or not), in this case, the criticism is fair. We moved quickly in partnership with the EWC this year and evolved our CCT format as best we could, but there will be (Exciting!? Important!? We think good!?) changes next year.' While I'd say the twitterverse is often biased (whether they realize it or not), in this case, the criticism is fair. We moved quickly in partnership with the EWC this year and evolved our CCT format as best we could, but there will be (Exciting!? Important!? We think good!?)… — Daniel Rensch (@DanielRensch) May 6, 2025 Apart from Carlsen, Nakamura and Nepomniachtchi, current World Champion D. Gukesh and his predecessor, China's Ding Liren, are set to participate in the Classic event. What is the Esports World Cup? The Esports World Cup brings together top esports clubs across 24 popular titles. EWC 2025 will run in Riyadh from July 7 to August 24, featuring chess as an online event for the first time. The inaugural 2024 edition spanned eight weeks, while the 2025 event will be history's largest multi-title esports tournament with 2,000+ players, 200+ teams, and a $70 million (≈₹602 crore) prize pool. Which tournaments determine EWC qualification? Chess players hoping to qualify for the Esports World Cup will have to secure a spot via the 2025 Champions Chess Tour (CCT), the primary pathway for EWC. The two online Champions Chess Tour events — the completed Chessable Masters (Feb 16-21) and Champions Chess Tour Leg 2 (May 18-23) — will offer players opportunities to compete on the world's biggest esports stage. The top 12 players from CCT will make the cut and will be joined by four more players from a 'Last Chance Qualifier' (LCQ) event. 16 chess players will be in action at the finale in Saudi Arabia later this year. What is the Champions Chess Tour? Champions Chess Tour is an online chess event that started in 2020 and was named the Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour. The $1 million prize pool Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour had four super tournaments, and the winners of each tournament played in the finals for the prize money. The event evolved over time with a lot of invitations being handed out and qualification paths created to make it a more open tournament where anyone can have a shot at playing the tournament. The standard four tournaments with one final set-up continued till 2024 before it was tweaked to accommodate the qualification path for Esports World Cup 2025. This time, only two legs will be played in the Champions Chess Tour 2025 instead of four legs, with the Esports World Cup acting as a replacement for the Tour Finals of CCT. 12 players will qualify for the EWC from these two online events.
