(Photo credit: Esports World Cup Foundation)

The 2025 Esports World Cup officially opened this week with more than 2,000 players from 200 clubs around the world slated to compete in 25 tournaments across 24 titles in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The event runs through Aug. 24 and is billed as the world's largest esports and gaming festival. It features a total prize pool topping $70 million, which includes the cross-title format for the Club Championship, the winner of which will become the EWC Club Champion and claim the $7 million grand prize.

The competition also includes more than $38 million for individual game championships, $5 million in global qualifier rewards and $450,000 in MVP bonuses.

'EWC 2025 is about bringing the gaming world together -- iconic games, elite players, and millions of fans around a shared celebration,' Esports World Cup Foundation CEO Ralf Reichert said. 'Through new ways of global broadcasts, original shows, and documentary storytelling, we're opening doors, creating opportunities, and sharing esports in new and exciting ways.

'With record-breaking competition, this summer is special -- not just for gamers, but for everyone who joins us.'

The EWC announced earlier this week that it will produce more than 7,000 hours of live programming across the event, delivered in 35 languages across 140 countries. It will also be streamed live on Twitch, YouTube and TikTok.

The 25 tournaments include: Apex Legends, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Call of Duty: Warzone, Chess, Counter-Strike 2, Crossfire, Dota 2, EA FC 25, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, Free Fire, Honor of Kings, League of Legends, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Overwatch 2, PUBG MOBILE, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Rainbow Six Siege X, RENNSPORT, Rocket League, Starcraft 2, Street Fighter 6, Teamfight Tactics, Tekken 8 and Valorant.

'The Esports World Cup is redefining success in global sport, unlocking long-term opportunities across the entire ecosystem for players, organizations and communities,' EWC Foundation chief product officer Faisal bin Homran said. 'At its core is the pioneering EWC Club Championship, a cross-game format that rewards all-around excellence, reshapes how performance is measured, and sets a new benchmark for what it means to be a champion in the digital age.

'As EWC 2025 begins, we look forward to seeing new champions rise and new legacies take shape.'

--Field Level Media