What is the Esports World Cup?

The Esports World Cup (EWC) is the most ambitious and expansive event in esports history. Held annually in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the 2025 returns even bigger, bringing together the world’s most competitive games under one tournament umbrella with a record-breaking $70 million prize pool. 

No previous event has unified so many top-tier titles, genres and regions. The 2025 EWC features 25 games, including chess. The draws in more than 1,500 elite players from across the globe. As expected, esports staples like League of Legends and Counter-Strike 2 headline the competition, but there’s something for everyone: Tekken 8 and other fighting games are enjoying unprecedented spotlight, and mobile esports, like Free Fire and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), are commanding serious viewership and cash prizes.

EWC’s 2025 Prize Pool: Still the Biggest Ever

That jaw-dropping $70 million prize pool is not a typo. While the total is split across all events, it’s still the largest aggregate prize fund in esports history. For comparison, Dota 2’s The International 2021 remains the single largest prize pool for one game at just over $40 million, but the EWC’s scope across dozens of games makes it unmatched in scale.

Even long-standing titles like StarCraft II, thought to be past their prime in 2025, are seeing record-setting prize money, thanks to EWC’s broad investment in competitive diversity.

Club Championship: Glory Beyond Individual Games

On top of tournament winnings, organizations are also battling in the Club Championship, an overarching contest to crown the most successful multi-game esports org. With $27 million of the $70 million prize pool on the line, teams are incentivized to compete across titles. Orgs will be awarded based on overall performance, with the top org taking a $7 million share.

What to Watch at the 2025 Esports World Cup

Running throughout July and August 2025, the EWC offers a dream calendar of global esports action. Whether you’re tuning in for Riyadh Masters, following Valorant, or cheering for your favorite Battle Royale squad in PUBG Mobile, this is your chance to dive into something new.

Fan of CS2? Don’t miss Apex Legends. Love your MOBA games? Check out MLBB or Honor of Kings. Whether you’re a long-time esports follower or just starting out, there’s a title and a team for every fan to fall in love with.

Each of the best EWC tournaments features S-tier gameplay, elite production, and the best teams on the planet. The Esports World Cup 2025 isn’t just another esports event, it’s the future of global competition.