The 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC) has officially opened in Riyadh with a grand ceremony, one of the biggest esports events to date, both in scale and prize money.
Organised by the Esports World Cup Foundation, the tournament runs until August 24 and will feature more than 2,000 elite players competing across 25 tournaments in 24 of the world’s most popular game titles.
This year’s edition features a record-breaking prize pool of over $70 million — a $10 million increase from 2024. The club championship alone will award $27 million, with the winning club set to receive $7 million. Individual Game Championships will distribute over $38 million, with an additional $5 million reserved for global qualifiers and $450,000 in MVP bonuses.
The event highlights games such as Free Fire, Honor of Kings, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and PUBG Mobile, representing the rising dominance of mobile gaming in competitive arenas.
The EWC 2025 will be broadcast in 35 languages across 140 countries, with more than 7,000 hours of live content expected, underlining the tournament’s expanding international footprint.
“We’re immensely proud to welcome the world back to Riyadh for the Esports World Cup. This is an event that showcases the scale, ambition and future of esports and gaming", said HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation.
He emphasized the event’s alignment with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the National Gaming and Esports Strategy.
“Esports is no longer niche. It’s a global sport and a cultural force. And the Esports World Cup is its most unifying stage".
The tournament supports Saudi Arabia’s broader effort to turn the Kingdom into a global destination for esports and digital media.