Week 5 at EWC: Preview, formats, prize pools

Darragh Harbinson, Senior Editor

Last Updated: 04/08/2025

Don’t worry, chess fans, Chess at the Esports World Cup may have ended with Carlsen taking victory, but the Esports World Cup still has dozens of events left.

Rainbow Six Siege X, EA FC 25, and Call of Duty Warzone all begin their main events at Week 5 of the Esports World Cup (EWC).

Check out all the info below to see the prize pools, formats, and favourites for each event!

Rainbow Six Siege X at Esports World Cup 2025

Dates: August 5-9
Prize pool: $2,000,000
1st place: $750,000

Rainbow 6 Siege X at the Esports World Cup starts with a GSL format, featuring two groups of eight. The double-elimination format will see four teams progress from each group to the single-elimination playoff bracket, where there will be no room for error.

Furia are current favourites on esports betting sites for the tournament victory, however FaZe Clan, G2, and home town heroes Falcons are all considered strong competitors in Riyadh.

Dezachu reveals he refused EWC for moral reasons

British Rainbow Six Siege caster, Derry ‘Dezachu’ Holt, posted on social media following the talent announcement that he refused an offer to cast at the event, stating

“I was offered EWC this year and, as with previous years, turned it down. While I appreciate EFG thinking of me, I’ll never find state-funded events a comfortable concept, especially when they’re done for nefarious reasons. That’s just a moral line I’m not prepared to cross.”

Later adding “Don’t let anyone tell you they’re doing it to ‘change things from the inside’ – they’re there for the bag. That’s all. Everyone’s morals have a price, and with it comes the inability to say anything bad about the government, country, or tournament.”

The Esports World Cup has faced criticism for sportwashing the Saudi Arabian government’s human rights abuses. Earlier this year, it was revealed that the Esports World Cup documentary was censored in Saudi Arabia due to Team Liquid LGBTQ+ segments included in the original series.

Call of Duty Warzone at the Esports World Cup

August 6-9
Prize pool: $1,000,000
1st place: $250,000

Call of Duty Warzone at EWC features three groups of seven teams, with the top seven overall teams progressing and the remaining 14 heading to the Last Chance stage on day 2. Similar to other Battle Royales at EWC, the Finals will feature the Match Point format, where a team that reaches a later-determined Match Point score must win a game to get over the line and win the trophy.

Team Falcons are heavy favourites going into the event, featuring back-to-back World Series Global Finals winners Andrew ‘Biffle’ Diaz, Kasimili ‘Soka’ Tongamoa, and Shufty, but as we saw at the Apex event, where VK Gaming won ALGS, anything can happen in the Match Point format.

Despite being strong favourites, Falcons will have to escape the Group of Death, in Group A featuring Twisted Minds, FaZe Clan, Fnatic and Leviatan, amongst others.

FC Pro 25 World Championship

Dates: August 7-10
Prize pool: $1,000,000
1st place: $250,000

Having now completed its Last Chance Qualifier and Play-ins, EA FC at the Esports World Cup is set to begin with 32 participants across eight four-player groups. The top two from each group will advance to the single-elimination stage.

2006-born prodigy Anders ‘Vejrgang’ Vejrgang is amongst the favourites for the tournament. Check out our FC Pro 25 World Championship preview for a more in-depth look at the tournament.

Darragh Harbinson, Senior Editor

Darragh Harbinson is an esports writer specialising in Counter-Strike. He has written for Esports News UK, Esports Insider, UKCSGO, Dexerto, and Rush B Media.

All Posts By Darragh Harbinson