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Arab News
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Cristiano Ronaldo named global ambassador for Esports World Cup
LONDON: Cristiano Ronaldo has been appointed global ambassador for the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh, the tournament's organizers announced on Friday. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The Esports World Cup Foundation said the Portuguese football legend's appointment marked a 'defining milestone' in the evolution of the tournament and the rise of e-sports as a global force. A five-time Ballon d'Or winner and one of the most iconic athletes of all time, Ronaldo brings what the foundation described as 'a powerful presence and cultural resonance that transcends traditional sports,' helping connect millions of fans to a new generation of e-sports athletes. Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, said: 'Cristiano Ronaldo connects generations — from lifelong football fans to today's emerging competitors. 'His pursuit of greatness mirrors the spirit of the Esports World Cup: the biggest stage for the best players. As global ambassador, he bridges traditional sport and competitive gaming, helping spotlight the next generation of athletes competing for global glory. We're humbled to have the greatest of all time stand with us in this moment for e-sports.' Ronaldo has been involved with the EWC since its inception. He took part in the global announcement of the competition in 2023 and attended last summer's closing ceremony in Riyadh, where he joined in celebrations for Team Falcons' historic Club Championship victory. As a global ambassador he will headline the tournament's global promotional campaign in the lead-up to and throughout the seven-week event and festival taking place this summer in Riyadh. He will also appear as a playable character in FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves, one of the 25 titles featured in the 2025 tournament lineup. With a combined social media following of over 1 billion, Ronaldo's involvement is expected to amplify the EWC's global reach and help introduce new audiences to the elite world of competitive gaming. Ronaldo said: 'Sport is always evolving and e-sports is one more frontier. The commitment, drive, talent, and intensity I have been able to see in e-sports athletes is no different from what I've experienced on the pitch. I'm proud to stand alongside these competitors and be part of a global event that's inspiring a new generation.'
Makkah Newspaper
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Makkah Newspaper
Esports World Cup to Feature Record-Breaking Prize Pool ofMore Than $70 Million for 2025 Event
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has today announced a record-breaking $70+ million prize pool for the upcoming Esports World Cup 2025 EWC), the world's largest esports event, set to return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 through August 24. With the highest stakes in esports history, the $70+ million prize pool elevates EWC as one of the world's most prestigious sporting events and reinforces the EWCF's long-term commitment to the sustainable growth of the esports industry. The total prize pool is a $10 million increase from last summer's inaugural event, marking a significant step in the Esports World Cup Foundation's mission to create life-changing opportunities and provide sustainable career paths for competitive players and multidisciplinary esports Clubs.'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, 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." With 25 tournaments in 24 games announced to date, including four new games—Chess, Crossfire, FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves and VALORANT—EWC 2025 will bring together more than 2,000 elite esports players and 200 top Clubs for the largest multi-game competition in history, with a life-changing prize pool rewarding more players and Clubs on the world's biggest stage. Tickets for EWC 2025 are now available to purchase at The EWC Club Championship, the innovative cross-game competitive format unique to the EWC, will award $27 million of the $70+ million total to the top 16 Clubs based on their overall performance, with $7 million allotted for the 2025 winner. After the Club Championship's $27 million allocation, the remainder of the total prize pool will be divided into three distribution categories: Game Championships, MVP Awards, and qualifiers on the Road to EWC. Each of the Game Championships will have its prize pool with a combined total exceeding $38 million. In addition, a $450,000 MVP Award pool will be allocated to standout participants across all competitions. More than $5 million will be awarded to the Road to EWC qualifiers, where teams and players compete for the remaining tournament spots through eligible events hosted by partnered publishers and organizers. The 2024 event attracted over 500 million online viewers and 2.6 million visitors to Riyadh's Boulevard City. At the inaugural EWC in 2024, Team Falcons captured the world's attention, running up the leaderboard with 10 top-three finishes, including three first-place placements, to earn 5,665 points and ultimately win the $7 million Club Championship title. North American Team Liquid finished in second place with 2,545 points and French Team BDS placed third with 2,000 points. '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 Team Falcons. "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.' '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 Team Liquid. '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 full lineup of games for the EWC 2025 announced to date include, in alphabetical order: Apex Legends, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Call of Duty: Warzone, Chess, Counter-Strike 2, Crossfire, Dota 2, EA Sports FC 25, FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves, Free Fire, Honor of Kings, League of Legends, Mobile Legends Bang Bang, Overwatch 2, PUBG BATTLEGROUNDS, PUBG Mobile, Rainbow Six Siege X, Rennsport, Rocket League, Starcraft ||, Street Fighter 6, Teamfight Tactics, and VALORANT. Along with the increased prize pool, EWCF is expanding its support for the entire esports industry through a number of partnerships with other leagues and competitions. Recent agreements with the likes of Riot Games, Activision and Capcom will see the EWCF support external competitions with resources that further help the stability of esports circuits and the industry as a whole, while increasing the pathways for players to reach the Esports World Cup each year. The EWCF recently announced that 40 top Clubs joined its industry-leading EWCF Club Partner Program that will provide financial support for Clubs to expand their brand and global fanbase: 100 Thieves, All Gamers, Bilibili Gaming, Cloud9, Edward Gaming, EVOS, FaZe Clan, Fnatic, FURIA, G2 Esports, Gaimin Gladiators, Gen.G, Gentle Mates, HEROIC, JD Gaming, Karmine Corp., Movistar KOI, LEVIATAN, LOUD, MOUZ, NAVI, NIP .eStar, ONIC, POWR, REJECT, S8UL, Sentinels, T1, Team BDS, Team Falcons, Team Liquid, Team RRQ, Team Secret, Team Spirit, Team Vitality, Twisted Minds, Weibo Gaming, Wolves Esports, ZETA DIVISION. The Esports World Cup 2025 will once again unite gaming and esports communities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for a global competition that will crown the next Esports World Cup Champion. The tournament's unique cross-game format will reward Clubs and players competing for a life-changing prize pool across a mix of platforms and genres, bringing together esports' best teams, players and games under one banner in the largest-ever celebration of esports. Additionally, the New Global Sport Conference, a premier event uniting global leaders in esports, gaming, sports, entertainment, and technology to shape the future of global sports, will return to Riyadh on August 23-24, 2025. The conference that bridges East and West to drive transformative global initiatives will see 1,500 industry leaders and decision-makers gather to collaborate on the growth and future of these dynamic industries. For more information, visit To learn more about EWC, visit and follow Esports World Cup Foundation on LinkedIn.
Arab News
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Saudi eLeague concludes first phase of 2025 season
RIYADH: The Saudi eLeague, the Kingdom's premier esports competition, has seen over 40 clubs take part in the 2025 season. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Organized by the Saudi Esports Federation and hosted at the SEF Arena in Boulevard Riyadh City, the league showcases the Kingdom's top clubs as they battle across multiple titles and divisions. Participating clubs have so far battled across 10 high-stakes contests, six in the elite category and four in the women category, with valuable points up for grabs at the top of the cross-game leaderboard. The final standings will determine the qualifiers for the championship, the league's most prominent event in which top clubs compete for the ultimate title and a major share of a prize pool worth almost $1.9 million. Twisted Minds lead the pack after the latest round, with Team Falcons second. Al-Qadsiah Esports sit in third, the breakout team of the season, surging up the ranks with wins in both the men's and women's contests. The first phase of the Saudi eLeague season has now concluded, and Abdullah Al-Nasser, head of esports products at the Saudi Esports Federation, said: 'The strong start to this year's Saudi eLeague says a lot about how far the scene has come. 'Compared to previous seasons … we're seeing real progress, more clubs, stronger competition, new talents and growing excitement from the community. 'What matters most is how competitive and intense every match has become. (It is) a platform where Saudi talents and clubs can grow, compete, and shine on bigger stages.' Fans can follow the action live at the SEF Arena or via Saudi eLeague channels on Twitch, YouTube, and social platforms.
Roya News
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Roya News
Team 'FALCONS' takes crown as champions of Red Bull Goal Engleezi in Jordan
In a thrilling showcase of skill, speed, and street football flair, Team Falcons has etched its name in history as the first-ever champions of Red Bull Goal Engleezi in Jordan. The highly anticipated finals, held at Iris International Sports Academy, brought the heat, excitement, and drama that define the raw essence of street football. Held in partnership with Zain Jordan, Ahli Bank, Ro'ya TV, Bliss 104.3, and Radio Hala, Red Bull Goal Engleezi came back to Jordan after a long hiatus, welcoming amateur street footballers from across the country to battle it out in a 2v2, small-sided format that emphasizes creativity, flair, and intensity. The tournament's urban-inspired ruleset included 'power cards' drawn at the start of each round, adding an unpredictable twist that kept both players and fans guessing. Following 5 qualifier rounds, the top 10 teams clashed in a high-stakes final showdown on May 23, where only one team could claim the ultimate prize. After two hours of nonstop action, Team Falcons rose above the rest, clinching the title and securing their place as the champions of Red Bull's newest football concept in the region. Rooted in the traditions of street and freestyle football, the Red Bull Goal Engleezi format strips the game back to its purest elements: fast play, tight control, and unmatched passion. Played on a compact pitch with two players per team and a single goalkeeper, matches are quick, intense, and constantly on the edge, pushing players to blend street style with strategic thinking. About Red Bull Goal Engleezi Red Bull Goal Engleezi is a high-energy, 2v2 small-sided football tournament. Designed to highlight speed, creativity, and raw skill, the format reinvents street football for a new generation. Visit the link to know more:
Saudi Gazette
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Saudi Gazette
Esports World Cup 2025 offers record $70 million prize pool
The ES TIMES — The Esports World Cup returns to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 to August 24, 2025, with the largest prize pool in esports history — over $70 million (SR262,785,040.00). Ticket sales for this highly anticipated event are now open. The event is organized by the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF). Following the success of the first 2024 edition, the second edition reinforces EWCF's position as the world's premier platform for the growth and development of the esports industry. This prize money represents an increase of $10 million / (SR37,540,720.00) compared to last year and underscores the foundation's long-standing commitment to creating sustainable career paths for gamers and supporting the development of multidisciplinary esports clubs. Ralf Reichert, CEO of the EWCF, said: "This record-breaking prize and our continued investments through our club partnership program and collaborations with publishers underscore our mission to provide long-term stability and opportunities within the ecosystem. While the $70+ million figure is impressive, our goal goes beyond numbers – we are building a strong and solid foundation for the future for everyone." 25 Tournaments, 24 Games, and Over 2,000 Players EWC 2025 will feature a total of 25 tournaments across 24 different games, with over 2,000 elite players and 200 leading clubs participating, in the largest multi-sport competition in esports history. Four new games have been added to the roster: Chess, Crossfire, FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves, and VALORANT. The New Global Sport Conference Returns The unique EWC Club Championship will allocate $27 million / ( SR101,359,944.00) of the total prize pool to the top 16 clubs based on their overall performance. The top club will win $7 million / (SR26,278,504.00).The remaining prize pool will be distributed among the gaming tournaments, with a total prize pool of over $38 million / (SR142,654,736.00), the MVP prize pool worth $450,000 / (SR1,689,332.40), and the Road to EWC qualifiers worth over $5 million (SR18,770,360.00), giving players and teams multiple opportunities to win and 2024 edition saw over 500 million online viewers and 2.6 million physical visitors to Boulevard City. Team Falcons excelled, winning the Club Championship with 5,665 points, ahead of Team Liquid and Team BDS. Mosaad Al-Dossary, CEO of Team Falcons, said: 'Winning our first title in front of our fans was unforgettable. The energy inside the arenas was unparalleled. That victory gave us momentum, and we are ready to build on it in 2025.' Steve Arhancet, Co-CEO of Team Liquid, added: 'EWC 2024 was one of the most successful years in our competitive history. The wins helped us expand into new games like Chess, strengthen our presence in Southeast Asia, and support charitable initiatives. EWC 2025 could be our golden moment.'The current lineup of EWC 2025 games includes: Apex Legends, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Call of Duty: Warzone, Chess, Counter-Strike 2, Crossfire, Dota 2, EA Sports FC 25, FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves, Free Fire, Honor of Kings, League of Legends, Mobile Legends Bang Bang, Overwatch 2, PUBG BATTLEGROUNDS, PUBG Mobile, Rainbow Six Siege X, Rennsport, Rocket League, Starcraft II, Rennsport, Tekken 8, Street Fighter 6, Teamfight Tactics, and EWCF has also announced expanded partnerships with major publishers such as Riot Games, Activision, and Capcom to support external tournaments and strengthen the global esports ecosystem. These partnerships will provide new ways for players to access the World Cup through official, sanctioned tournaments. The EWCF Club Partner Program has expanded to 40 EWCF Club Partner Program, designed to support clubs with the resources needed to enhance their global presence, now includes 40 leading organizations, including: 100 Thieves, All Gamers, Bilibili Gaming, Cloud9, Edward Gaming, EVOS, FaZe Clan, Fnatic, FURIA, G2 Esports, Gaimin Gladiators, Gen.G, Gentle Mates, HEROIC, JD Gaming, Karmine Corp., Movistar KOI, LEVIATAN, LOUD, MOUZ, NAVI, ONIC, POWR, REJECT, S8UL, Sentinels, T1, Team BDS, Team Falcons, Team Liquid, Team RRQ, Team Secret, Team Spirit, Team Vitality, Twisted Minds, Weibo Gaming, Wolves Esports, and ZETA DIVISION. In parallel with the competitions, The New Global Sport Conference will return to Riyadh on August 23 and 24, 2025, during the closing weekend of the EWC. The event will bring together 1,500 global leaders in esports, gaming, traditional sports, entertainment, and technology to discuss the future of sports and innovation internationally. This East-West event aims to accelerate global collaboration within the sector. For more details:
