Esports World Cup 2025: Teams, Format, Schedule, Prizes, Talent, Fantasy

Emile Laurent

19.08.2025 - 09:03

esports world cup 2025 esports world cup riyadh esports world cup prize pool hltv cs2 CS2

Esports World Cup 2025: Teams, Format, Schedule, Prizes, Talent, Fantasy

The Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025 returns to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, running from July 8 through August 24, 2025, marking the second edition of this global esports extravaganza.

Tournament Structure & Format (Counter-Strike 2 Edition)

A highlight of the event features a Counter‑Strike 2 tournament featuring 16 invited teams competing in a single-elimination format. Matches are best-of-three (Bo3), with a third-place decider also played in Bo3, and the grand final in a best-of-five (Bo5) showdown.

Team Line-up

The line-up boasts 16 teams, including qualifiers such as TYLOO, who earned their spot by winning the Hero Esports Asian Champions League.

Prizing Breakdown

The total prize pool specifically for this Counter‑Strike 2 segment totals US$1,250,000, allocated as follows:

1st place – $500,000
2nd place – $230,000
3rd place – $130,000
4th place – $70,000
Ranks 5–8 – each $40,000
Ranks 9–16 – each $20,000.

Broader Context: Esports World Cup 2025 at Large

The CS:2 event is part of a larger, multi-title festival spanning 26 events across 25 esports disciplines. The entire EWC 2025 features a staggering $70 million+ total prize pool—the largest in esports history—including:

$27 million reserved for the Club Championship, where top-performing organizations across multiple titles are rewarded.
$38 million distributed among individual game championships.
~$5–6 million for qualifiers.
$450,000–$500,000 allocated for MVP awards.

Notably, the tournament introduces several new titles: Valorant, Chess, Crossfire, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, and Naraka: Bladepoint, complementing returning staples like Dota 2, Free Fire, League of Legends, and more.

Talent Lineup & Talent Features

While HLTV’s Counter‑Strike 2 article mentions the “talent lineup announced,” detailed specifics aren’t provided in the main article. However, broader EWC coverage confirms high-profile ambassadors such as Cristiano Ronaldo (global ambassador) and Magnus Carlsen (chess ambassador), alongside other chess luminaries like Hikaru Nakamura and Ian Nepomniachtchi joining esports orgs.