2025 Esports World Cup
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Sport | Esports |
| Location | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| Dates | July 8–August 24 |
| Administrator | Esports World Cup Foundation Tournaments supervised by ESL |
Number of events | 26 in 25 esports |
| Purse | $71.5 million |
| Website | esportsworldcup |
The 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC) is the second edition of the Esports World Cup, an annual international esports tournament series run by the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF), a nonprofit organization funded by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. It will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from July 8 to August 24, 2025 and feature 26 events in 25 esports.
Making their debuts this year are online chess, fighting game Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, tactical shooters Crossfire and Valorant, and battle royale game Naraka: Bladepoint (as a non-Club Championship title). Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and EA Sports FC 25 succeed Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III and EA Sports FC 24, respectively, in the game lineup.[1]
Background
On December 18, 2024, the EWCF announced a new multi-year partnership with Chess.com, adding online chess as part of the EWC lineup. Players qualified through the Champions Chess Tour 2025, consisting of two online Tour events, for a chance at a share of a $1.5 million prize pool. There will also be an open last chance qualifier to be held during the EWC to fill out the remaining slots in the tournament.[2][3] The addition of online chess also led to some notable chess figures being signed by various organizations, such as Magnus Carlsen with Team Liquid, Hikaru Nakamura with Team Falcons, and Ian Nepomniachtchi with Aurora Gaming, among others.[4] Carlsen was announced as the EWC's chess ambassador on December 18, 2024, while Portuguese football player Cristiano Ronaldo was announced as global ambassador on June 13, 2025.[3][5]
On December 23, 2024, tactical first-person shooter Crossfire was announced as the second new game.[6] On February 6, 2025, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves was added as part of a three-year partnership with SNK Corporation. Kenji Matsubara, CEO of SNK, then stated that “this partnership marks a historic milestone for Fatal Fury, a title loved around the world for 30 years, as it steps into the competitive gaming arena.”[7][8] On February 10, 2025, Riot Games announced a new three-year partnership with the EWCF. As part of the partnership, tactical hero shooter Valorant was added to the EWC alongside League of Legends and Teamfight Tactics, which were part of last year's lineup.[9][10]
Due to their annual release schedules, the Call of Duty and EA Sports FC series were represented by the newest entries in their respective franchises, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and EA Sports FC 25. (with EA later announcing the EA Sports FC Pro World Championship would be hosted at EWC).[1] The Garena Free Fire and Rainbow Six Siege events will return as Free Fire and Rainbow Six Siege X. After they were featured in the 2024 EWC, the Fortnite and Strinova events didn't return in 2025.[11] GeoGuessr was announced as part of the Esports World Cup on May 15, 2025, in a similar manner to Strinova in that it would not count towards the Club Championship. However, GeoGuessr instead would use EWC to hold the Wildcard tournament for the GeoGuessr World Cup.[12] On May 22 2025, GeoGuessr announced its withdrawal from EWC in response to community backlash over concerns regarding Saudi Arabia's human rights record.[13] Naraka: Bladepoint would also be announced as part of the Esports World Cup on May 15 under the same status as Strinova and GeoGuessr.[14]
Format
Club Championship
The Club Championship is a cross-game competition within the Esports World Cup. The championship will give out a total of US$27 million among the top 24 clubs (used by the EWC in place of "organization"), determined by their overall performance in various games throughout the tournament. To qualify for the Club Championship, a club has to finish in the top 8 in at least two competitions, and to win the championship title, the club also has to secure first place in at least one competition. Only participants who were publicly announced as part of their respective organization before May 15, 2025 for most games, or May 31, 2025 for Apex Legends and EA Sports FC 25, were eligible to earn points for their club. Below is a breakdown of the points awarded based on placement in the individual game championships:
| Pos. | Points | Pos. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1000 | 5 | 200 |
| 2 | 750 | 6 | 150 |
| 3 | 500 | 7 | 100 |
| 4 | 300 | 8 | 50 |
Club Partner Program
The Esports World Cup Foundation's Club Partner Program (formerly the Club Support Program) is an initiative designed to provide substantial financial assistance to selected esports organizations. Through this program, chosen teams received annual financial support to enhance their operations and create more opportunities for professional players. This year, the program was expanded to cover 40 organizations, ten more than the 30 from the previous year.[15]
The 40 teams represent the five major competitive regions — Europe, North America, Asia, South America, and the Middle East — with the majority of the teams being primarily based in Europe or Asia. Several teams from the 2024 Club Support Program, including TSM, OG and Blacklist International, did not make the Club Partner Program.[16]
- Europe
- Asia
- All Gamers[d]
- Bilibili Gaming
- Edward Gaming
- EVOS Esports
- Gen.G Esports
- JD Gaming
- ONIC Esports
- REJECT
- Rex Regum Qeon
- S8UL Esports
- T1[b]
- Weibo Gaming
- Wolves Esports
- ZETA DIVISION
- Middle East
- POWR Esports
- Team Falcons[b]
- Twisted Minds
Calendar
The calendar was unveiled on April 15, 2025 (with Naraka: Bladepoint added on May 15).[14] 26 events in 25 esports will be held across a seven-week calendar, shortened from the eight-week calendar from last year.[11]
| ● | Competitions days |
| July/August 2025 | July | August | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | ||||||||||
| 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 |
Men's | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Women's | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Naraka: Bladepoint | ● | ● | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overwatch 2 | ● | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PUBG: Battlegrounds | ● | ● | ● | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PUBG Mobile | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rainbow Six Siege X | ● | ● | ● | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rennsport | ● | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rocket League | ● | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| StarCraft II | ● | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Street Fighter 6 | ● | ● | ● | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Teamfight Tactics | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tekken 8 | ● | ● | ● | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Valorant | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Results
Event winners
Prize pool
The 2025 Esports World Cup will have a prize pool of US$71.5 million, which surpasses the $62.5 million from last year as the largest combined prize pool in esports history. Like last year, the prize money will be broken down into four categories: the Club Championship, the individual Game Championships, Qualifiers, and MVP Awards. The Club Championship awards $27 million to the top 16 teams based on their overall performance, while each of the 24 Game Championships will have a combined prize pool of $38 million. Teams will earn a combined $5 million during qualifying events, while $500,000 is allocated for the MVP awards.[17]
| Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| Club Championship | $27,000,000 |
| Game Championships | $38,000,000 |
| Qualifiers | $6,000,000 |
| MVP Awards | $500,000 |
| Pos. | Team | Prize | Pos. | Team | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7,000,000 | 13 | $400,000 | ||
| 2 | $4,000,000 | 14 | $350,000 | ||
| 3 | $3,000,000 | 15 | $325,000 | ||
| 4 | $2,500,000 | 16 | $300,000 | ||
| 5 | $2,000,000 | 17 | $275,000 | ||
| 6 | $1,500,000 | 18 | $250,000 | ||
| 7 | $1,000,000 | 19 | $225,000 | ||
| 8 | $850,000 | 20 | $200,000 | ||
| 9 | $700,000 | 21 | $175,000 | ||
| 10 | $600,000 | 22 | $150,000 | ||
| 11 | $525,000 | 23 | $125,000 | ||
| 12 | $450,000 | 24 | $100,000 |
Response
The Esports World Cup continues to be criticized for its use of sportswashing to cover up Saudi Arabia's human rights record.[18] As part of their new partnership, Riot Games acknowledged that "some may not feel great about our decision to partner with the EWC in this way, and we respect that."[9]
In March 2025, Christopher "ChrisCCH" Hancock, a professional Street Fighter 6 player, declined to participate at the Esports World Cup after he retroactively qualified for the Street Fighter 6 tournament via participating in the SFL World Championship. He cited how EWC was funded and managed by Saudi Arabia, and how the Capcom Pro Tour's integration with EWC meant that not participating in any EWC qualifiers would be equivalent to retiring from competing in the title. Hancock had also refused to participate at Gamers8 and EWC tournaments in the past.[19]
In June 2025, Hambino, a professional Apex Legends player representing Team Orchid, announced that they would not attend the Esports World Cup, noting that they "do not feel comfortable playing in a country that has laws allowing for queer people to be murdered". A substitute player was selected to take Hambino's place and agreed to share any tournament earnings with them. Hambino stated that their portion of the earnings would be donated to support queer members in the community.[20]
Notes
- ^ For events with no tiebreakers, 3–4 receive 500 points and/or 5–8 receive 200 points.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Team qualified for the Club Partner Program as one of the top 8 clubs in the 2024 Club Championship.
- ^ For Club Championship purposes, Ninjas in Pyjamas are known as "NIP.Estar", as NIP Group also own Chinese organization Estar Pro.
- ^ For Club Championship purposes, All Gamers are known as "AG.AL Esports International" (or just AG.AL), as the organization includes All Gamers (based in China), All Gamers Global (for players outside of China) and Anyone's Legend (the League of Legends division of All Gamers).
- ^ Known as the ALGS Year 5 Midseason Playoffs, part of the Apex Legends Global Series.
- ^ Takes the place of the Tour Finals for the Champions Chess Tour 2025.
- ^ Takes the place of the CrossFire Stars Summer Championship 2025.
- ^ Not known as the Riyadh Masters, unlike prior editions of Gamers8 (EWC's predecessor) and the Esports World Cup. The tournament is still a stop on the ESL Pro Tour.
- ^ Known as the FC Pro World Championship 2025.
- ^ Tournament is part of the Free Fire World Series.
- ^ Known as the Honor of Kings World Cup 2025.
- ^ a b c This event is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Riot Games, but the tournament is officially sanctioned by the developers.
- ^ Known as the MLBB Mid Season Cup 2025.
- ^ Known as the MLBB Women's Invitational 2025.
- ^ Known as the Naraka: Bladepoint Midseason Championship 2025. Tournament does not count towards the Esports World Cup Club Championship. The results on the top are for the Solos tournament while the results on the bottom are for the Trios tournament.
- ^ Known as the OWCS Midseason Championship 2025, part of the Overwatch Champions Series.
- ^ Tournament is part of the PUBG Global Championship.
- ^ Known as the PUBG Mobile World Cup 2025, part of the PUBG Mobile Global Championship.
- ^ Tournament is part of the Rennsport R1 circuit.
- ^ This event is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Psyonix, and will be known as Esports World Cup: Featuring Rocket League.
- ^ Tournament is part of the Capcom Pro Tour.
- ^ Tournament utilizes four-player teams instead of the conventional 1v1 competitive format.
References
- ^ a b Trilles, Calvin (2025-01-02). "All confirmed esports titles in Esports World Cup 2025 | ONE Esports". www.oneesports.gg. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
- ^ "Chess Makes Historic Debut At Esports World Cup 2025 With $1.5 Million Prize Pool". Chess.com. 2024-12-17. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
- ^ a b Šimić, Ivan (2024-12-18). "Chess joins Esports World Cup 2025, Magnus Carlsen appointed as ambassador". Esports Insider. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
- ^ "Why are esports organizations signing chess players in 2025?". Esports Charts. 2025-02-18. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
- ^ Toledo, Jerome (2025-06-13). "SIUUU! Cristiano Ronaldo emerges as Esports World Cup ambassador". spin.ph. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
- ^ Sarma, Krishanu Ranjan (2024-12-23). "Esports World Cup adds CrossFire for 2025". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
- ^ Hassall, Michael (2025-02-06). "FATAL FURY's Latest Entry Heads To The EWC". Esports.net. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
- ^ Nicholson, Jonno (2025-02-06). "FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves added to Esports World Cup 2025 line-up". Esports Insider. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
- ^ a b "Why We're Returning to the Esports World Cup with League, TFT, and VALORANT". Riot Games. 2025-02-10. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
- ^ Nilendu (2025-02-11). "Riot Completes Its Trifecta as Valorant Set to Finally Appear at 2025 Esports World Cup Alongside TFT and League of Legends". fandomwire.com. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
- ^ a b Morris, Joey (2025-04-15). "The full Esports World Cup 2025 schedule has been revealed". Esports Insider. Retrieved 2025-04-16.
- ^ Nicholson, Jonno (2025-05-15). "GeoGuessr joins the Esports World Cup lineup". Esports Insider. Retrieved 2025-05-17.
- ^ Nicholson, Jonno (2025-05-22). "GeoGuessr withdraws from Esports World Cup following backlash". Esports Insider. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
- ^ a b Esports World Cup [@EWC_EN] (May 15, 2025). "Step into the true art of sword fighting with the Naraka tournament 🔥⚔️ Part of the #EWC Festival!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Nicholson, Jonno (10 December 2024). "Esports World Cup Foundation expands partner programme to 40 organisations". Esports Insider. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
- ^ Maas, Lea. "EWC announces 40 esports orgs for its $20m Club Partner Program". Esports Insider. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
- ^ "2025 Esports World Cup Reveals 70 Million USD Prize Pool". Esports Illustrated On SI. 2025-04-10. Retrieved 2025-04-16.
- ^ Ciocchetti, Cecilia (2025-02-10). "Esports World Cup adds VALORANT for 2025 competition—but it's courting more controversy with fans". Dot Esports. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
- ^ Makar, Connor (2025-03-18). "Top Street Fighter 6 competitor ChrisCCH declines qualification spot for Saudi-owned Esports World Cup due to "the nature in which the event is funded and managed"". VG247. Retrieved 2025-04-22.
- ^ Nicholson, Jonno (2025-06-18). "ALGS sparks more backlash as player refuses to attend EWC". Esports Insider. Retrieved 2025-06-20.