Esports World Cup to feature record $70m prize pool in return to Riyadh

Esports World Cup to feature record $70m prize pool in return to Riyadh
This year’s tournament will expand to 24 games, adding chess and riot games’ popular shooter ‘Valorant’ to last year’s roster of 21 games. (Reuters/File)
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Updated 16 April 2025
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Esports World Cup to feature record $70m prize pool in return to Riyadh

Esports World Cup to feature record $70m prize pool in return to Riyadh
  • The pot is the largest in esports history, solidifying the EWC’s reputation as the ultimate global stage for competitive gaming and a key driver of long-term industry sustainability

RIYADH: The Esports World Cup Foundation announced on Thursday a record-breaking prize pool of more than $70 million for the 2025 edition of the Esports World Cup, which returns to Riyadh from July 7 to Aug. 24.
The pot is the largest in esports history, solidifying the EWC’s reputation as the ultimate global stage for competitive gaming and a key driver of long-term industry sustainability.
The massive increase in prize money, which is up $10 million from last year’s inaugural event, is driven by the foundation’s ambition to provide life-changing opportunities for players and clubs, while fostering stable and scalable careers across the esports ecosystem, organizers said.
“The record-breaking $70+ million prize pool, along with our commitment to the Club Partner Program and our multi-year publisher agreements, is a privilege to announce and validation of our purpose to elevate the industry, by giving players, clubs, publishers and all other stakeholders the stability needed to invest for future success,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation.
“While more than $70 million is an incredible, life-changing sum, it’s always aligned with a long-term vision rather than short-term impact. 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.”
This year’s event will feature 25 tournaments across 24 titles, including new additions such as chess, Crossfire, FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves and VALORANT.
More than 2,000 elite players and 200 top esports clubs are expected to take part in what is set to be the largest multi-title competition ever held. Tickets are now on sale at the tournament’s website.
A cornerstone of the prize distribution is the EWC Club Championship, which will allocate $27 million of the total prize pool to the top 16 performing clubs across all games. The winning club will take home $7 million.
The remainder of the fund will be split between individual Game Championships — collectively worth more than $38 million — alongside a $450,000 MVP Award pool and more than $5 million dedicated to qualifiers on the “Road to EWC.”
Last year’s event drew more than 500 million online viewers and 2.6 million in-person attendees to Riyadh’s Boulevard City, according to organizers.
Team Falcons emerged victorious in 2024’s inaugural Club Championship, amassing 5,665 points with 10 top-three finishes, including three first-place victories.
“Winning the Club Championship crown and $7 million at the inaugural Esports World Cup was a defining moment for Team Falcons,” said Mosaad Al-Dossary, CEO of the team.
“The opportunity to compete in front of our home fans, where they made the arenas shake with every great play, motivated us like never before, and it was an honor to secure the victory for them. We’ve used the momentum and winnings from last year to build on our success and we look forward to continuing that legacy this summer.”
Team Liquid, who finished second in 2024, also sees EWC 2025 as a major milestone in the industry.
“Competing at the inaugural EWC contributed to one of the most successful competitive years in our 24-year history, securing a strong second-place finish in the EWC 2024 Club Championship,” said Steve Arhancet, co-CEO of the team.
“With our winnings, we expanded into new games like chess, strengthened our international presence in Southeast Asia and supported philanthropic initiatives. The experience, momentum and rosters we’ve built over the past year put us in the perfect position to claim the championship crown at EWC 2025. We believe this to be our year.”
The Esports World Cup will also see the return of the New Global Sport Conference on Aug. 23–24, taking place during the event’s closing weekend in Riyadh, bringing together industry leaders and visionaries to shape the future of esports and competitive entertainment.

Faisal bin Homran told Arab News that the previous year’s tournament was successful, bringing in more tournaments and gamers for 2025. 

“I think this year is gonna be better than every aspect from experience players experience, prize, money and publisher as well. Excited everyone’s happy.”

Homran highlighted that most players who thrive in the game are “audacious gamers”. 

“We are challenging the players, we are challenging the clubs, EWC no mercy when it comes to qualification. Everything is earned and nothing is granted. If you are good come and compete and win EWC.”

 


Morocco U-17 make history after winning their first AFCON title

Morocco U-17 make history after winning their first AFCON title
Updated 7 sec ago
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Morocco U-17 make history after winning their first AFCON title

Morocco U-17 make history after winning their first AFCON title
  • Atlas Lions beat Mali 4-2 on penalties after goalless final
  • Goalkeeper Chouaib Bellaarouch emerged the hero, saving two spot-kicks

BEIRUT: Morocco’s U-17 national football team made history on Saturday by winning their first Africa Cup of Nations 2025 title after edging past Mali 4-2 on penalty shootouts.
The final match saw little in the way of clear chances, with both sides struggling to break the deadlock throughout 90 minutes of a goalless draw.
In the second half, the Atlas Lions increased their tempo, obviously paving their way for a breakthrough, but could not hit the Malian net.
With no goals to separate the two, the match went to penalties, where Morocco held their nerve.


Goalkeeper Chouaib Bellaarouch emerged the hero, saving two spot-kicks to secure a historic victory for his teammates, winning their first continental title at the U-17 level.
With this victory, Morocco has now conquered every single AFCON title, from U-17 to U-20, U-23 and the senior level.
On the way to the final game, tournament hosts Morocco faced off against Cote d’Ivoire in the semifinal and edged them out 4-3 on penalties following a goalless draw.
Meanwhile, runners-up Mali beat Burkina Faso 2-0 in the second semifinal.
The Atlas Lions had topped Group A with seven points ahead of Zambia, Uganda and Tanzania. Meanwhile, Mali came second in Group D, six points behind leaders Cote d’Ivoire, who led the group with seven points.


Jos Buttler fires Gujarat to top of IPL table in intense heat

Jos Buttler fires Gujarat to top of IPL table in intense heat
Updated 19 April 2025
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Jos Buttler fires Gujarat to top of IPL table in intense heat

Jos Buttler fires Gujarat to top of IPL table in intense heat
  • Chasing 204 for victory, Gujarat rode on Englishman’s 54-ball knock laced with 11 fours and four sixes to achieve their target

AHMEDABAD: England’s Jos Buttler struck an unbeaten 97 to power Gujarat Titans to the top of the IPL table with a seven-wicket win over Delhi Capitals in Ahmedabad’s intense heat on Saturday.
Chasing 204 for victory, Gujarat rode on Buttler’s 54-ball knock laced with 11 fours and four sixes to achieve their target with four balls to spare at the world’s biggest cricket stadium.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Buttler and impact substitute Sherfane Rutherford, a left-hand West Indies batter who hit 43, put on a key stand of 119 to steer Gujarat to their fifth win in seven matches and the top of the 10-team table.
Delhi slipped to second.
Rutherford fell in the 19th over. Delhi’s left-arm quick Mitchell Starc needed to defend 10 off the final six balls but the left-handed Rahul Tewatia finished off with a six and four.
Buttler, who hit his third half-century of the season, was left three short of a hundred that would have put him level with Virat Kohli’s record eight IPL tons.
Gujarat, who won the IPL in their debut season in 2022, elected to field first on a hot afternoon as the temperature soared above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
Delhi reached 203-8 but the total could have been more had it not been for four wickets by Gujarat pace bowler Prasidh Krishna, who now leads this season’s bowling with 14 scalps.
Buttler was the hero as his batting charge stood out after his work behind the stumps for 20 overs in the heat as he gloved two catches.
Gujarat skipper Shubman Gill fell run out for seven in the second over after he attempted a tough single and a direct throw from Karun Nair rattled the stumps.
The left-right batting pair of Sai Sudharsan and Buttler put the innings back on track as they balanced caution and aggression in their stand of 60.
Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav took down Sudharsan for 36 but Buttler found another partner in Rutherford, who took on the bowling and hit three sixes.
Earlier Delhi skipper Axar Patel top-scored with 39.
KL Rahul made 28 before Krishna trapped him lbw with a yorker and then cut short Nair’s knock in the ninth over.
Veteran pace bowler Ishant Sharma bowled two overs but went off after he struggled to cope with the scorching heat.
Ishant came back to bowl another over but again went back to the dug out and was subbed out with figures of 1-19.
Tristan Stubbs was out for 31 before Krishna sent back Axar and Vipraj Nigam with successive balls but the hat-trick was avoided.
Ashutosh Sharma hit 37 to boost the total.


Bayern roar past Heidenheim with 34th title in clear sight

Bayern roar past Heidenheim with 34th title in clear sight
Updated 19 April 2025
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Bayern roar past Heidenheim with 34th title in clear sight

Bayern roar past Heidenheim with 34th title in clear sight
  • The table now shows Bayern at the top with 72 points, nine ahead of Bayer Leverkusen
  • Urbig was sharp and alert, diving low to deny Sirlord Conteh with a smart save

HEIDENHEIM, Germany: Bayern Munich had little trouble beating lowly Heidenheim 4-0 on Saturday to put themselves within touching distance of their 34th Bundesliga title.
The table now shows Bayern at the top with 72 points, nine ahead of Bayer Leverkusen who face St. Pauli on Sunday, with four rounds left to play.
With Bayern racing into a three-goal lead after just 36 minutes — courtesy of Harry Kane’s precision, Konrad Laimer’s drive and Kingsley Coman’s flair — there was little doubt about Saturday’s outcome.
Kane could have doubled his tally after 22 minutes, with the pressure on the Heidenheim goal reaching a boiling point, but the Bundesliga’s leading marksman steered a close-range header just wide, letting the hosts off the hook.
Joshua Kimmich then took his time before rifling a shot into the corner for 4-0 in the 56th minute as Bayern surged ahead at full throttle in their relentless pursuit of another league crown.
Heidenheim, fueled by pride and eager to salvage something from an otherwise dismal performance, came close to pulling back a goal just after the hour mark. But Bayern keeper Jonas Urbig was sharp and alert, diving low to deny Sirlord Conteh with a smart save.
For the hosts, the situation looks bleak: they are third from bottom in the relegation play-off places with 22 points, seven behind St. Pauli, who occupy the last safe spot.
Bayern will host Mainz next Saturday before facing RB Leipzig and Borussia Moenchengladbach, then wrapping up their campaign with a trip to Hoffenheim on May 17.


Palestinian Oday Dabbagh scores as Aberdeen beat Hearts 2-1 to reach Scottish Cup final

Palestinian Oday Dabbagh scores as Aberdeen beat Hearts 2-1 to reach Scottish Cup final
Updated 19 April 2025
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Palestinian Oday Dabbagh scores as Aberdeen beat Hearts 2-1 to reach Scottish Cup final

Palestinian Oday Dabbagh scores as Aberdeen beat Hearts 2-1 to reach Scottish Cup final
  • Hearts levelled in the 28th minute
  • Aberdeen swiftly took advantage to reach their first Scottish Cup final in eight years

GLASGOW: Palestinian forward Oday Dabbagh scored a late extra-time winner as Aberdeen eventually ground down nine-man Hearts to win 2-1 on Saturday and reach the Scottish Cup final.
The Dons struck first against the run of play when Pape Gueye’s header came back off the crossbar and ricocheted into his own net off the back of 42-year-old Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon.


Hearts levelled in the 28th minute when captain Lawrence Shankland met James Penrice’s cross from the left, took a touch and rifled a clinical finish through the legs of Dimitar Mitov.
The Edinburgh side suffered a huge blow a minute before the break when Michael Steinwender was shown a straight red after bringing down Topi Keskinen.
But the 10 men held out for well over an hour against an Aberdeen side lacking in invention.
Hearts’ task got even tougher when Cammy Devlin was shown a second yellow card with four minutes left of extra-time.
Aberdeen swiftly took advantage to reach their first Scottish Cup final in eight years when Dabbagh fired in the rebound after Jack Milne’s shot was saved by Gordon.
Jimmy Thelin’s side will face the winner of Sunday’s semifinal between Celtic and St. Johnstone at Hampden on May 25.


Lloyd narrowly holds off Weug to take thrilling maiden victory in Jeddah

Lloyd narrowly holds off Weug to take thrilling maiden victory in Jeddah
Updated 19 April 2025
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Lloyd narrowly holds off Weug to take thrilling maiden victory in Jeddah

Lloyd narrowly holds off Weug to take thrilling maiden victory in Jeddah
  • British driver manages race calmly, pulling clear to build advantage

JEDDAH: McLaren’s Ella Lloyd thrived under intense pressure from the more experienced Maya Weug to secure her first F1 Academy win on Saturday, taking victory in race one around the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

Starting from the front row, the British driver got the better of her Rodin Motorsport teammate Emma Felbermayr at turn one to storm into the lead.

From there, she managed the race calmly, pulling clear as battles raged behind her and building a solid advantage over her rivals.

Felbermayr slipped back, losing P2 to Red Bull Racing’s Alisha Palmowski before Weug worked her way into the top three.

Meanwhile, series leader Doriane Pin found herself locked in a fierce battle for P6 with Tina Hausmann.

But just as the fight was heating up, disaster struck for Williams driver Lia Block — starting from the back of the grid after a qualifying crash — who was tagged from behind by Courtney Crone.

The incident brought out the safety car and forced Chloe Chong into retirement after she sustained damage while trying to avoid the collision.

Lloyd handled the restart well, but as race one approached its conclusion, Weug — having passed Palmowski for P2 — began closing the gap rapidly.

The pair engaged in a thrilling drag race on the final lap, but Lloyd held firm, crossing the line just 0.176 seconds ahead of the Ferrari driver.

Palmowski similarly fended off Pin to secure the final podium spot, with Alba Larsen taking P5 ahead of Aston Martin’s Tina Hausmann. Chloe Chambers, who was to start race two from pole, finished seventh, leaving Nina Gademan to claim the final point in race one.