Latest news with #EWCF
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:
Saudi Gazette
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Saudi Gazette
All confirmed games for the esports World Cup 2025
The ES TIMES — The Esports World Cup is a global celebration of competitive gaming and esports enthusiasts. After its successful launch in 2024, the event returns to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in the summer of 2025 - bigger, bolder, and with more games than ever before. Over 1,500 players and the best clubs in esports will compete for the largest prize pool in the sport's history. The tournament is organized by the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) and features a wide range of popular games across multiple genres. Each game has its own qualifier and finals, bringing together the elite players in one place. The event also includes a unique inter-club competition known as the Club Competition, where esports organizations earn points and win additional prizes based on their performance across all games. The 2025 edition builds on last year's success with more games, greater global expansion, and an enhanced experience for players and fans alike. Confirmed Games for the Esports World Cup 2025 The event will feature 25 eSports games, offering a variety of content for everyone. Here is the list of confirmed games so far: 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 VALORANT. Announcement Schedule • Honor of Kings was the first game confirmed. • In November, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Warzone, and Free Fire were announced. • In December, games such as Street Fighter 6, Dota 2, Rainbow Six Siege, PUBG, EA Sports FC 25, Overwatch 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and Rocket League were confirmed. • On December 17, Chess joined the list through a partnership with • Before the end of the year, Rennsport, PUBG Battlegrounds, and Crossfire were also confirmed.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why chess is forging an unlikely partnership with esports
Why chess is forging an unlikely partnership with esports Norway's Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana during the Norway Chess Open in 2024. - Carina Johansen/NTB Scanpix/AP The ancient game of chess is one steeped in tradition, with a history dating back centuries. It was once a game purely of endurance, a test of patience with titanic battles often taking days to find a winner. Advertisement Much of that is true today, with the classical form of chess still prominent on the global stage. However, it's no longer alone and perhaps in danger of taking a back seat. That's because of the explosion of shorter forms of chess, which compile all those existing traditions into bitesize matches taking just a matter of minutes from start to finish. And, thanks to organizations such as and streaming platforms such as Twitch, the game is now increasingly being played online – so much so that it's set to make its debut at the Esports World Cup (EWC) later this year. The tournament, hosted and part-funded by Saudi Arabia, was held for the first time in 2024 and brought together professional gamers, publishers and fans from across the world for an eight-week competitive gaming bonanza. Advertisement Earlier this year, it was announced that chess would be included in the event, with the best players in the world competing for a $1.5 million prize pool – playing a new format which is deemed more accessible to an esports audience. In a bid to compete in the new event, top esports teams have set about signing some of the best chess players on the planet. Team Liquid, one of the biggest esports teams, didn't hold back and signed Norwegian world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and American No. 2 Fabiano Caruana. 'For us, we've been big fans of chess, and I think the main reason is because there's a considerable amount of overlap in the demographics of gamers and chess players,' Team Liquid's CEO Steve Arhancet tells CNN Sports, adding that 'The Queen's Gambit' television show and lockdowns sparked a surge of popularity in chess streamers. Advertisement 'I think folks now bounce around Twitch and watch different genres of content, and would pop into a chess streamer and watch games and then switch over to a League of Legends match. I think that cross pollination has always been of interest for us.' Chess' participation in the EWC has finally offered esports organizations a more serious business case to invest into chess and it could be a sign of things to come. It also offers chess another avenue in which to grow and capitalize on its surge in popularity. Team Liquid CEO Steve Arhancet believes chess and esports can be a profitable partnership. - AWNewYork/Shutterstock 'Chess is already a thriving ecosystem' Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) which organizes the EWC, says merging the tournament with the chess world is a huge opportunity for both parties. Advertisement Reichert says the EWCF held positive conversations with top players and largely considered the home of online chess, before announcing a three-year partnership which will allow teams to truly invest in the venture. Carlsen, considered arguably the best chess player of all time, also agreed to work as an ambassador for the crossover. 'When we go into a game, when we go into any ecosystem, we want to get into it and add value and help grow it,' Reichert tells CNN Sports. 'And chess is already a thriving ecosystem – one of the fastest growing sports in the last few years. We thought that we can bring a real foothold for it in the esports ecosystem, specifically into the club ecosystem, and so that was almost the theoretical construct behind it.' Advertisement The format, though, was something that took some time to settle on. The goal was to create a version which would stay true to tradition while incorporating elements associated with fast-paced esports games. The result was the creation of a 10+0 format, which would give both players 10 minutes to make their moves without any chance to add additional time, increasing the chances of blunders as players battle against the clock. Just 16 players will qualify for the tournament and earn their place through the Champions Chess Tour, hosted by 'It does make it a bit less like traditional chess, a bit more gamified,' Caruana, the current world No. 5, tells CNN Sports. Advertisement 'I think there will be players who are not super happy about that format, and some players who might like it more, and also some players for whom it will definitely benefit their chances. I can't say for sure if it benefits mine.' Fabiano Caruana, ranked fifth in the world, believes the traditions of chess can still exist. - Gregor Fischer/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Future of classical chess Caruana is excited to test himself against yet another online format – something which is becoming increasingly frequent for current stars – but understands that some in chess won't be happy about the game drifting further away from tradition. The American, who lost the classical World Chess Championship final against Carlsen in 2018, still sees value in the classic format and wants to 'keep our historical legacy' which has 'a lot of meaningful significance.' Advertisement As chess continues to shift more towards online platforms, he envisions a future where the top players continue to split their time across all the different formats, allowing them to diversify their training. 'I think that we are seeing a general shift to faster time patrols, which is also driven a lot by players' preferences, and perhaps also by the market, because most people, I would assume from the spectator side, want to see faster, and you could argue more dynamic and exciting formats,' he says. 'That's something that's already been going on for a long time. I think that chess joining esports is just another step in that direction, but we were already moving there.' The International Chess Federation (FIDE) is still very much considered the home of classic chess but its CEO Emil Sutovsky tells CNN Sports that the game's governing body is supportive of the esports partnership. Advertisement He says FIDE was involved in early conversations with the EWCF, before became the natural partner on which to stage the EWC. 'We are not, let's say, just silent witness to what's happening,' Sutovsky says. 'FIDE has a dual position. Not all the chess events have to go under FIDE, as long as it's not the World Championships, and for us it's important that if chess has a way to expose itself to wider audiences, the new partnerships, the new commercial entities, then that's very much welcome because the entire chess community is going to benefit.' Like Caruana, though, Sutovsky says FIDE will always look to uphold the values of classical chess and will not lose touch with the game's core traditions. Advertisement He also says that Saudi Arabia could well start hosting more top FIDE events in the not too distant future, in order to reach wider and youngster audiances. 'While trying to be zeitgeisty and popular, we cannot and shall not neglect the unique tradition and what is essence of chess,' he adds. 'We do not believe that classical chess will die out anytime soon, and we will certainly not try to contribute to that.' Start of the beginning While the EWC will be the showcase event for chess' foray into esports, it looks as though we're still at the start of what could be a profitable future for both parties. Advertisement Team Liquid's Arhancet can see the potential and has already spoken with about how to collaborate going forward. He has been particularly buoyed by speaking to sponsors who find the chess demographic to be a 'really attractive' prospect. 'We're just getting started,' Arhancet promised. 'For us, time will tell how profitable or successful this venture is, but early onset is that we've made some really great decisions on getting involved in chess at the time that we did.' For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at
CNN
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Why chess is forging an unlikely partnership with esports
The ancient game of chess is one steeped in tradition, with a history dating back centuries. It was once a game purely of endurance, a test of patience with titanic battles often taking days to find a winner. Much of that is true today, with the classical form of chess still prominent on the global stage. However, it's no longer alone and perhaps in danger of taking a back seat. That's because of the explosion of shorter forms of chess, which compile all those existing traditions into bitesize matches taking just a matter of minutes from start to finish. And, thanks to organizations such as and streaming platforms such as Twitch, the game is now increasingly being played online – so much so that it's set to make its debut at the Esports World Cup (EWC) later this year. The tournament, hosted and part-funded by Saudi Arabia, was held for the first time in 2024 and brought together professional gamers, publishers and fans from across the world for an eight-week competitive gaming bonanza. Earlier this year, it was announced that chess would be included in the event, with the best players in the world competing for a $1.5 million prize pool – playing a new format which is deemed more accessible to an esports audience. In a bid to compete in the new event, top esports teams have set about signing some of the best chess players on the planet. Team Liquid, one of the biggest esports teams, didn't hold back and signed Norwegian world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen and American No. 2 Fabiano Caruana. 'For us, we've been big fans of chess, and I think the main reason is because there's a considerable amount of overlap in the demographics of gamers and chess players,' Team Liquid's CEO Steve Arhancet tells CNN Sports, adding that 'The Queen's Gambit' television show and lockdowns sparked a surge of popularity in chess streamers. 'I think folks now bounce around Twitch and watch different genres of content, and would pop into a chess streamer and watch games and then switch over to a League of Legends match. I think that cross pollination has always been of interest for us.' Chess' participation in the EWC has finally offered esports organizations a more serious business case to invest into chess and it could be a sign of things to come. It also offers chess another avenue in which to grow and capitalize on its surge in popularity. Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) which organizes the EWC, says merging the tournament with the chess world is a huge opportunity for both parties. Reichert says the EWCF held positive conversations with top players and largely considered the home of online chess, before announcing a three-year partnership which will allow teams to truly invest in the venture. Carlsen, considered arguably the best chess player of all time, also agreed to work as an ambassador for the crossover. 'When we go into a game, when we go into any ecosystem, we want to get into it and add value and help grow it,' Reichert tells CNN Sports. 'And chess is already a thriving ecosystem – one of the fastest growing sports in the last few years. We thought that we can bring a real foothold for it in the esports ecosystem, specifically into the club ecosystem, and so that was almost the theoretical construct behind it.' The format, though, was something that took some time to settle on. The goal was to create a version which would stay true to tradition while incorporating elements associated with fast-paced esports games. The result was the creation of a 10+0 format, which would give both players 10 minutes to make their moves without any chance to add additional time, increasing the chances of blunders as players battle against the clock. Just 16 players will qualify for the tournament and earn their place through the Champions Chess Tour, hosted by 'It does make it a bit less like traditional chess, a bit more gamified,' Caruana, the current world No. 5, tells CNN Sports. 'I think there will be players who are not super happy about that format, and some players who might like it more, and also some players for whom it will definitely benefit their chances. I can't say for sure if it benefits mine.' Caruana is excited to test himself against yet another online format – something which is becoming increasingly frequent for current stars – but understands that some in chess won't be happy about the game drifting further away from tradition. The American, who lost the classical World Chess Championship final against Carlsen in 2018, still sees value in the classic format and wants to 'keep our historical legacy' which has 'a lot of meaningful significance.' As chess continues to shift more towards online platforms, he envisions a future where the top players continue to split their time across all the different formats, allowing them to diversify their training. 'I think that we are seeing a general shift to faster time patrols, which is also driven a lot by players' preferences, and perhaps also by the market, because most people, I would assume from the spectator side, want to see faster, and you could argue more dynamic and exciting formats,' he says. 'That's something that's already been going on for a long time. I think that chess joining esports is just another step in that direction, but we were already moving there.' The International Chess Federation (FIDE) is still very much considered the home of classic chess but its CEO Emil Sutovsky tells CNN Sports that the game's governing body is supportive of the esports partnership. He says FIDE was involved in early conversations with the EWCF, before became the natural partner on which to stage the EWC. 'We are not, let's say, just silent witness to what's happening,' Sutovsky says. 'FIDE has a dual position. Not all the chess events have to go under FIDE, as long as it's not the World Championships, and for us it's important that if chess has a way to expose itself to wider audiences, the new partnerships, the new commercial entities, then that's very much welcome because the entire chess community is going to benefit.' Like Caruana, though, Sutovsky says FIDE will always look to uphold the values of classical chess and will not lose touch with the game's core traditions. He also says that Saudi Arabia could well start hosting more top FIDE events in the not too distant future, in order to reach wider and youngster audiances. 'While trying to be zeitgeisty and popular, we cannot and shall not neglect the unique tradition and what is essence of chess,' he adds. 'We do not believe that classical chess will die out anytime soon, and we will certainly not try to contribute to that.' While the EWC will be the showcase event for chess' foray into esports, it looks as though we're still at the start of what could be a profitable future for both parties. Team Liquid's Arhancet can see the potential and has already spoken with about how to collaborate going forward. He has been particularly buoyed by speaking to sponsors who find the chess demographic to be a 'really attractive' prospect. 'We're just getting started,' Arhancet promised. 'For us, time will tell how profitable or successful this venture is, but early onset is that we've made some really great decisions on getting involved in chess at the time that we did.'
Fox News
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Esports World Cup will offer 'life-changing sum' to top competitors
The Esports World Cup (EWC) will feature the best competitive gamers from across the globe, and the pressure got more intense on Thursday as a record-breaking prize pool was announced. The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) announced a prize pool of more than $70 million, which will make the event among the most prestigious in sports. The event will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and run from July 7 to Aug. 24. "The record-breaking $70+ million prize pool, along with our commitment to the Club Partner Program and our multi-year publisher agreements, is a privilege to announce and validation of our purpose to elevate the industry, by giving players, clubs, publishers and all other stakeholders the stability needed to invest for future success," Esports World Cup CEO Ralf Reichert said in a news release. "While more than $70 million is an incredible, life-changing sum, it's always aligned with a long-term vision rather than short-term impact. 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." There are 25 tournaments taking place in 24 games so far. Esports World Cup officials said the games include: 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, Rennsport, Rocket League, Starcraft II, Street Fighter 6, Teamfight Tactics, and VALORANT. There are also 40 clubs that have joined the EWCF Club Partner Program ahead of the Esports World Cup, 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, ZETA DIVISION. Team Falcons won the Club Championship and a $7 million prize in the inaugural event last year. The remainder of the prize pool "will be divided into three distribution categories: Game Championships, MVP Awards, and Qualifiers on the Road to EWC. Each of the Game Championships will have its prize pool with a combined total exceeding $38 million. In addition, a $450,000 MVP Award pool will be allocated to standout participants across all competitions," organizers said. More than $5 million will be awarded to Road to EWC qualifiers. "Winning the Club Championship crown and $7 million at the inaugural Esports World Cup was a defining moment for Team Falcons," Team Falcons CEO Mosaad Al-Dossary said in a news release. "The opportunity to compete in front of our home fans, where they made the arenas shake with every great play, motivated us like never before, and it was an honor to secure the victory for them. "We've used the momentum and winnings from last year to build on our success and we look forward to continuing that legacy this summer." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
