The Esports World Cup 2025 is preparing to deliver intense Counter-Strike action with 16 invited teams facing off in a single-elimination bracket. The event will take place in Riyadh, featuring a hefty $1.25 million prize pool and plenty of drama on and off the stage.
Sixteen teams will compete, all invited through the VRS system. Matches will mostly be best-of-three, except the grand final, which will be a best-of-five showdown. A third-place match will also be held, with extra prize money, VRS points, and Club Championship stakes on the line. Ever wonder if that extra game might make a difference? Yeah, it might.
Teams and Format
The lineup is packed with familiar names and some surprises. Here’s the deal: single-elimination, no second chances, best-of-three matches until the final, which stretches to best-of-five. Expect some blood, sweat, and probably a few questionable calls.
Schedule and Venue
All matches will happen at Boulevard Riyadh City, with fans packed in to witness the battles live. Round of 16 kicks off on August 20, 2025, with the following matchups:
Day 1 (20/08/2025)
- Vitality vs Liquid at 13:00
- TYLOO vs Astralis at 13:00
- Natus Vincere vs 3DMAX at 16:15
- GamerLegion vs The MongolZ at 16:15
- MOUZ vs Virtus.pro at 19:30
- G2 vs Falcons at 19:30
Day 2 (21/08/2025)
- FaZe vs Aurora at 13:00
- Spirit vs HEROIC at 13:00
For the full schedule, check here.
Prize Pool
Prize money hits $1.25 million, a bump from last year’s million-dollar pot. Club Championship points will be awarded, benefiting partner clubs for their performance across EWC events. Here’s the breakdown:
- 1st: $500,000 + 1000 CC points
- 2nd: $230,000 + 750 CC points
- 3rd: $130,000 + 500 CC points
- 4th: $70,000 + 300 CC points
- 5th-8th: $40,000 + 200 CC points
- 9th-16th: $20,000
Falcons currently top the Club Championship ranking with 4700 points, followed by Liquid (4200) and Vitality (3750). The overall most successful esports organization will walk away with a cool $7 million once EWC wraps up.
