EWC 2025: 2,000+ players to battle for historic $70 million prize pool

Written by Sudhanshu Ranjan

11 April 2025

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EWC 2025: 2,000+ players to battle for historic $70 million prize pool

The 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC) has unveiled a record-breaking $70 million prize pool, laying the groundwork for a game-changing event in the competitive gaming community. Taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this multi-title esports tournament is a milestone in the history of esports. At $10 million more than the initial 2024 event, EWC reinforces its position as one of the highest-profile tournaments in the market.

Prize pool breakdown

The record-breaking $70 million prize pool is distributed across 25 competitions, ensuring that various esports titles and their respective communities receive financial support.

EWC Club Championship: The biggest portion of the prize pool, $27 million, is awarded to the top 16 clubs based on overall performance.
- Winner’s Prize: $7 million for the 2025 champion.
Remaining Prize Pool: Divided into three categories:
- Game Championships: Over $38 million distributed across all titles.
- MVP Awards: $450,000 for standout participants.
- Road to EWC Qualifiers: More than $5 million for qualifying events.

$70+ Million split between the esports' finest 💰 pic.twitter.com/3wCvZdX53L
— Esports World Cup (@EWC_EN) April 10, 2025

Growth and sustainability in esports

One of the main objectives of the Esports World Cup Foundation is to promote long-term growth in esports. Through the acquisition of multi-year publisher deals and the improvement of the financial stability of competitive gaming, the EWC hopes to ensure that esports is a sustainable career path for professionals all over the globe.

According to CEO Ralf Reichert, the focus is not just on massive prize pools but on creating opportunities at every level of the industry. Reichert stated, “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 validate our purpose to elevate the industry by giving players, clubs, publishers, and all other stakeholders the stability needed to invest for future success.”

He further added, “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.”

Participating games and competitions

The 2025 Esports World Cup will include a varied lineup of games across various genres. This diverse collection guarantees that fans of all gaming communities will be able to participate in the tournament. The full lineup of games for the EWC 2025 announced to date includes:

Chess
Crossfire
FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves
VALORANT
Apex Legends
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Call of Duty: Warzone
Counter-Strike 2
Dota 2
EA Sports FC 25
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
Street Fighter 6
Teamfight Tactics
TEKKEN 8
TBA

Club Partner Program

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has officially announced the names of 40 esports clubs accepted into the 2025 EWCF Club Partner Program. With an investment of $20 million, the programme offers up to $1 million to each of the chosen clubs to produce creative content and marketing campaigns in the run-up to and during the Esports World Cup 2025.

Historical context: Comparing 2024 and 2025 events

The 2024 Esports World Cup paved the way for this year’s event, with Team Falcons claiming victory after recording ten top three rankings. The increase in the prize pool in 2025 indicates the event’s ongoing growth and increasing popularity. Saudi Arabia has made tremendous investments in esports with its Public Investment Fund. The move aligns with the nation’s overall vision of diversifying its economy through investments in entertainment and gaming.