Saudi Arabia is gearing up to host its first-ever esports world cup in Riyadh with a record-breaking prize pool of $60 million, making it the largest in esports history.
The tournament will feature top esports clubs and players competing in 20 tournaments across 19 different titles over the span of eight weeks. A new addition to the event is the EWC Club Championship, which will award $20 million to the top 16 clubs based on their performance across multiple games.
This unique format allows clubs to showcase their skills across various titles, with the ultimate winner being crowned the Esports World Cup Club Champions. The remaining prize pool will be distributed among Game Championships, Player Bounties, and Qualifiers, totaling over $33 million.
In addition, exceptional players will have the chance to earn $50,000 MVP bounties, with over $7 million awarded during the qualification phase to support competitive players and clubs in building sustainable careers.
The EWC lineup features 19 titles, including popular games like Apex Legends, Fortnite, and League of Legends, as well as classics like Street Fighter and StarCraft II, with more game announcements expected before the tournament begins.
Saudi Arabia Aims to Become a Premier Esports Destination
The EWC will become an annual event in Saudi Arabia starting this summer, aiming to be the largest esports competition to date. This initiative will drive growth in the gaming and esports sectors, positioning the Kingdom as a key destination for international sports and esports events.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed his vision for the event, stating, “The Esports World Cup is the next step in Saudi Arabia’s evolution as a global gaming and esports hub, offering an unparalleled esports experience that pushes industry boundaries.”
He added, “The competition will further our progress towards achieving the objectives of Vision 2030, diversifying the economy, boosting tourism, creating jobs, and offering world-class entertainment for citizens, residents, and visitors alike.”
The Kingdom also anticipates that the tournament will accelerate the National Gaming and Esports Strategy, with projections indicating that by 2030, the esports industry could contribute over SAR 50 billion to Saudi Arabia’s GDP and create 39,000 new jobs.
