Esports World Cup 2025 Begins Riyadh With Record $70M Prize Pool

The 2025 Esports World Cup, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is the largest esports tournament in history, featuring over 2,000 professional players from more than 200 clubs across 100 countries. Running through August 24, the event includes 25 competitions across 24 games, such as League of Legends, Dota 2, PUBG Mobile, and VALORANT, with the introduction of chess as a new discipline this year. The tournament boasts a record-breaking prize pool exceeding $70 million, with $27 million allocated to the club championship, rewarding organizations with top performances across multiple disciplines. Global distribution partners like FOX Sports, DAZN, and YouTube provide extensive live coverage totaling over 7,000 hours in 35 languages to more than 140 countries, marking a 55 percent increase from 2024. Football star Cristiano Ronaldo serves as the Global Brand Ambassador, symbolizing the fusion of traditional sports and esports, while American musician Post Malone headlines the opening ceremony. The event highlights esports' rapid growth into a mainstream global sport with revenues expected to reach $4.3 billion in 2025.