Latest news with #EsportsWorldCupFoundation
Leaders
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Leaders
Team Vitality Women's Team Wins MLBB Title at 2025 Esports World Cup
The French women's team Team Vitality triumphed in the 2025 Esports World Cup, capturing the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Women's Invitational (MWI) title and the $150,000 first-place prize from a $500,000 total prize pool. The win also earned the team 1,000 points in the global rankings, strengthening their position in the race for the world's largest esports and gaming event. The Indonesian players of Team Vitality – Fumi, Vival, Cinny, Chell, and Vivian – delivered a flawless performance throughout the five-day tournament at SNB Arena, which took place from July 15 to 19. The team remained unbeaten on their way to the championship, avenging their loss in last year's Esports World Cup final. Cinny (Cindy Siswaanto) was named Best Player of the tournament and received a $10,000 prize. Speaking at the post-victory press conference, her teammate Vivian Indrawati shared, 'We are filled with joy right now. All of our players possess high discipline, skill, and experience. We always strive to be our best, never giving our opponents any victory or hope, and we aim for total control in every aspect of the game.' The Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Women's Invitational (MWI) is a cornerstone of the professional Mobile Legends tournament calendar, providing a platform for aspiring women players to showcase their talents on the global stage. This year's edition was the largest in MWI's history, with 16 teams competing, up from 12 teams in 2024. Qualifiers spanned 57 regions worldwide, compared to 46 regions in the previous year. These efforts reflect the ongoing commitment of both the Esports World Cup Foundation and MOONTON Games to support and expand the involvement of women in professional esports. The second week of competition continues with three major titles, with Dota 2 wrapping up today. Tomorrow, the champions of League of Legends and Free Fire will be crowned. For more information about the 2025 Esports World Cup, visit: Short link : Post Views: 1
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Catching up with Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation
The Esports World Cup officially kicked off last week with its second annual tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, drawing over 2,000 competitors from 84 different countries. CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, Ralf Reichert, described the event's $70 million prize pool as 'by far the largest prize pool in the industry, and probably in almost all of sports'. And while in Riyadh last week, CNN's Eleni Giokos caught up with Reichert, to hear more of his observations about this expanding industry.
Campaign ME
6 days ago
- Business
- Campaign ME
Esports World Cup 2025: Saudia's play to stay relevant with new generations
In a move that signals more than just a typical sponsorship, Saudia – the Kingdom's national airline – has joined the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) as its official Airline Partner. Announced through a first-of-its-kind virtual signing inside a gaming world, the partnership places the flag carrier at the heart of a global entertainment phenomenon and marks a striking new chapter in how brands engage with audiences born in digital spaces. Set in Riyadh's Boulevard City from July 7 to August 24, the Esports World Cup 2025 brings together more than 2,000 players from more than 100 countries, competing for a combined prize pool of $70m. For brands like Saudia, it presents a rare opportunity: a high-visibility platform that combines international reach with cultural relevance, especially among younger audiences that are increasingly difficult to engage through traditional media. Khaled Tash, Group Chief Marketing Officer at Saudia with Campaign Middle East how the partnership goes beyond branding to support a long-term repositioning for the airline. This alignment, says the brand, is strategic. 'Saudia is proud to be the Official Airline Partner of the Esports World Cup 2025, an event that underscores the Kingdom's rise as a global hub for world-class sporting events,' says, Tash. 'This partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting national initiatives that drive tourism growth and promote the development of sports tourism.' Building a lifestyle brand At the heart of Saudia's marketing strategy is a push to redefine its brand perception: from airline to lifestyle brand. The Esports World Cup provides a credible, high-energy platform for this transition. 'The EWC provides Saudia with a strategic platform to engage with a global, digitally native audience while reinforcing Saudi Arabia's growing role as a host of world-class international events,' said Tash. He continues: 'For Saudia, this partnership goes beyond sponsorship – it marks our entry into high-growth sectors such as esports and interactive entertainment. These industries are critical touchpoints for engaging with younger travellers who value innovation, personalisation and immersive digital experiences.' Youth culture as a channel for relevance A key motivation behind the partnership is the chance to build affinity with younger travellers – particularly Gen Z and Millennials who expect brands to be as digitally connected as they are. 'Esports offers a powerful platform to engage Gen Z and Millennial audiences,' said Tash. 'Through this partnership, we are deepening our connection with these digitally native travellers in ways that are relevant and meaningful to their lifestyles.' That connection extends beyond sponsorship visibility into how Saudia is evolving its service proposition. 'Through this partnership, we are creating interactive, digital-first experiences that reflect the behaviours and preferences of younger consumers,' said Tash. 'From onboard streaming and gaming capabilities to curated in-flight content and social media activations, Saudia is embedding youth-centric touchpoints into our brand experience to ensure we remain relevant and top-of-mind for future travellers.' This effort is part of a wider rethinking of what it means to be a modern airline brand. 'This is part of a broader shift in how Saudia is evolving from a national carrier into a lifestyle brand that champions innovation and youth culture,' he added. From sports tourism to storytelling in motion While brand visibility at the Esports World Cup is a given, Saudia's activation goes several steps further – turning the partnership into a tourism enabler. The airline is launching exclusive travel packages for esports fans and tournament guests, combining premium hospitality, curated entertainment and destination marketing. These experiences aren't just perks – they are part of a deliberate strategy to boost both inbound tourism and brand loyalty through seamless, high-quality travel experiences. 'We are leveraging our expertise and capabilities to deliver a seamless and elevated travel experience for tournament guests that embodies the quality of our services, the warmth of Saudi hospitality, and the Kingdom's global appeal,' said Tash. Virtual, visionary and built for culture The virtual signing itself – carried out via an interactive digital platform – is symbolic of where Saudia's marketing ambitions are heading. Rather than simply attach its logo to a trending event, the airline is embracing the language of gaming and digital culture signing its sponsorship not on paper, but in a world built for and by the community it wants to reach. Tash calls it 'a bold move in how brands show up in emerging cultural spaces,' adding: 'Our role in the Esports World Cup is grounded in long-term brand alignment. We intend to engage with this audience on their terms, in their language and in their space.' The long game While the campaign is still unfolding, Saudia sees the partnership as a multilayered opportunity with both short- and long-term value. 'In the short term, we look to achieve increased brand visibility and affinity among younger audiences, both locally and globally,' said Tash. 'We also aim to generate greater interest in Saudi Arabia as a destination for tourism, entertainment and cultural discovery.' But the real win, he adds, lies in the long-term brand transformation: 'We want to be the airline of choice for young travellers, those who see us not only as a carrier but as a brand that understands and reflects their passions – including gaming.'
CNN
6 days ago
- Sport
- CNN
Catching up with Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation
The Esports World Cup officially kicked off last week with its second annual tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, drawing over 2,000 competitors from 84 different countries. CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, Ralf Reichert, described the event's $70 million prize pool as "by far the largest prize pool in the industry, and probably in almost all of sports". And while in Riyadh last week, CNN's Eleni Giokos caught up with Reichert, to hear more of his observations about this expanding industry.
CNN
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Competitive gaming is reaching new heights
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.
