The overall scale, prize money and lineup of this event have been greatly improved compared to last year, injecting heat and topics into global esports.
Participating lineup & landscape evolution of Esports World Cup
A total of 16 teams were invited to participate in the Esports World Cup 2025, of which 15 were directly invited through the Valve Regional Points (VRS), and TYLOO won the only qualifying spot through the 2025 Asian Champions League qualifiers. Compared with the three-stage tournament structure of “Opening Tournament + Do-or-Die Tournament” adopted in the first event in 2024, this has been changed to a simpler and more efficient single invitation system, and the opening and last-minute stages have been cancelled, and the tournament will directly enter the knockout stage.
The 16 teams include global strong teams, including Vitality, Natus Vincere, Spirit, FaZe, G2, MOUZ, Liquid, Astralis, Virtus.pro, 3DMAX, The MongolZ, Aurora, Falcons, HEROIC, and TYLOO. This lineup brings together strong teams from the East and the West, as well as traditional teams – reflecting the global coverage and brand influence of EWC.
The competition system is simplified and upgraded, and the fierce battle is about to start
The tournament adopts a single elimination system, and the knockout stage is all BO3 (Best-of-Three). Only the final is upgraded to a BO5 battle to enhance the shock of the final. At the same time, a new third-place match was added, which not only offered additional prize money but also VRS points and Club Championship (CC) points ([HLTV.org][4]). This design not only maintained the competitiveness but also considerately gave the losing team a chance to come back.
The 2024 event had a more complex multi-stage design, while the 2025 event moved to a “straight to the point, focused firepower” competition format, which not only made the audience feel more compact but also better adapted to the preparation rhythm of professional teams.
The prize money soared, and the clubs were revived
The total prize money for this year’s Esports World Cup was as high as 1.25 million US dollars, and the champion could receive 500,000 US dollars – compared with last year’s 1 million US dollars, the prize money increased by 25%. The specific distribution is as follows:
Champion: $500,000 + 1000 CC points
Runner-up: $230,000 + 750 CC points
Third place: $130,000 + 500 CC points
Fourth place: $70,000 + 300 CC points
5th–8th place: $40,000 + 200 CC points
9th–16th place: $20,000
In terms of club points, Falcons currently leads (4700 points), followed by Liquid and Vitality. After the entire EWC season, the championship club will also receive an additional $7 million in prize money – this is a positive incentive for the scale and management of e-sports organizations and an important factor in promoting industry investment.
Luxurious guest lineup, two broadcast channels ignite the viewing experience
In terms of broadcast talent, EWC 2025 has assembled a 16-person elite team, including Freya “Freya” Spiers and James “BanKs” Banks as interviewers, Tres “stunna” Saranthus and others as hosts for the main match broadcast, the analyst lineup includes Janko “YNk” Paunović, Jacob “Pimp” Winneche, and the main commentators include Chad “SPUNJ” Burchill, Alex “Machine” Richardson, JustHarry, Hugo “Hugo” Byron and others. In addition, the auxiliary B stream will be presented by Sam “Tech Girl” Wright, Henry “HenryG” Greer and Adam “Dinko” Hawthorne, satisfying the preferences of different viewers from multiple angles.
Compared with the first edition of the event in 2024, the broadcast lineup is more professional and international, and it also pays more attention to coverage and layering, which indicates that the way of presenting e-sports events is becoming more mature.
Fantasy League ignites fans’ enthusiasm and skin rewards add color
HLTV and Skin.Club have jointly launched a fantasy game for the event. The top three players will receive skin rewards: such as Hydra gloves, AWP·Hyper Beast and M4A1-S·Hyper Beast (all Field-Tested). This online interactive gameplay continues the practice since EWC 2024, while constantly enriching the forms of fan participation and stimulating interactive enthusiasm beyond traditional viewing.
Comparison with the First Tournament: Simpler, More Luxurious, More Professional
| Category | 2024 Inaugural Edition | 2025 Upgraded Version |
| Prize Pool | $1,000,000 total (Champion: $400,000) | $1,250,000 total (Champion: $500,000) |
| Qualification | Opening Stage + Last Chance Stage + Playoffs | Direct Invite + Single-Elimination |
| Tournament Format | Three-stage system, more complex | Streamlined, direct main event |
| Broadcast Talent | Original broadcast lineup | Expanded professional lineup with dual streams |
| Fan Interaction | Fantasy League introduced | Fantasy League continues with better rewards |
Igniting the Momentum of Esports World Cup
This year’s EWC was not only a test of esports prowess, but also a showcase for the commercialization of esports and the innovative viewing experience. On one hand, the soaring prize pool and the club points system highlighted the integration of business and competition. On the other hand, the “B-stream” and fantasy games demonstrated the tournament’s deep consideration for fans. Furthermore, Riyadh, through its large-scale esports festival, promoted regional cultural development and established the EWC as a landmark for global esports brands.
Furthermore, TYLOO, the Asian representative, will undoubtedly be a key focus, as will their ability to become a dark horse. In the past, “unconventional powerhouses” like The MongolZ impressed at the 2024 opening tournament. Can they replicate this upset this year? The performance of Wildcard’s new roster will be worth anticipating.
With the rapid expansion of the EWC from 2024 to 2025, the tournament is forming a virtuous cycle of mature processes, sustainable business, and increased brand awareness. If future versions continue to expand content and enhance offline interactions and viewing experiences, it’s possible that this will become a consistent “summer event” for the esports world.
Conclusion
The 2025 ESports World Cup, with higher prize money, a simpler format, and a more professional broadcast team, builds on the foundation laid by the inaugural edition while achieving significant improvements in multiple dimensions. This will not only be a pinnacle shooter competition, but also a model for the evolution of esports tournaments. The Riyadh competitive stage will be packed with stars, and glory and excitement will coexist. It will surely become a legendary chapter in the CS2 season.