It has been revealed that the prize pool for the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC) will be a record-breaking $70m (£54.8m).
Scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the EWC will bring in elite players and teams from across the globe.
The prize money will be split across a total of 25 different competitions that take place between July and August 2025, as well as the Club Championship.
The Club Championship rewards organisations, including those in its partner programme, for consistently performing across different EWC events.
It’s claimed that the prize pool helps make the EWC one of the ‘most prestigious sporting events’ in the world.
This year’s event marks a $10m (£7.7m)increase from the prize pool distributed in 2024.
Ralf Reichert, CEO of the EWC said the prize pool was a ‘privilege to announce’ and is ‘validation of our purpose to elevate the industry’.
He added: “While more than $70m is an incredible, life-changing sum, it’s always aligned with a long-term vision rather than short-term impact.</em> 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.”
The Esports World Cup has attracted criticism due to its involvement of the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund.
How will the prize pool be distributed?
It’s said that $27m of the total prize pool will be up for grabs in the Club Championship at the Esports World Cup.
Then $38m will be split across game championships and $450,000 for MVP awards.
Finally, just over $5m will be on offer to EWC qualifiers.
Who won the inaugural Esports World Cup?
The inaugural Esports World Cup ran from July 3 to August 25, 2024.
It was won by Saudi Arabian organisation Team Falcons – who scored ten top-three finishes including victories in Call of Duty: Warzone and Free Fire.
