Riot and League of Legends Take Advantage of EWC
In 2024, Riot Games has decided to allow Saudi Arabia to host a portion of its game titles at the first-ever Esports World Cup in the history of esports. It’s worth mentioning that the EWC is currently considered a “trial tournament” as it has yet to be integrated into Riot’s official esports system, and the number of participating teams remains relatively limited. Additionally, the EWC is scheduled to take place during the timeframe between the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) and the new season, causing many teams to feel that the competition is not “fair.” However, the substantial prize pool has made the entire esports community, particularly the League of Legends community, reflect on the benefits of the EWC.
Specifically, according to some information confirmed by Riot, the prize pool for MSI 2025 has increased significantly compared to 2024. Specifically, the winning team will receive $500,000—ten times the prize pool for the winning team (Gen.G) in 2024. Additionally, other tiered prizes have also increased by at least 7.5 times compared to previous years.
This matter has been brought to discussion, and according to many opinions, EWC 2025, with a substantial prize pool, is expected to bring in significant revenue for Riot and the esports teams when they send their representatives to compete. Furthermore, there has been information that the Saudi Arabian region is also offering substantial funding for Riot’s official tournaments, allowing the publisher to continue supporting their titles to participate in the EWC.
Current Landscape of EWC and League of Legends
One of the notable aspects of the EWC at present is that it is scheduled to take place shortly after the MSI, which means that the teams selected to participate will have minimal downtime. This could significantly impact the performance of the participating teams.
However, if in the future the EWC could implement better organizational strategies, the tournament could become a recurring event within the official system of major publishers. Ultimately, the revenue generated from the EWC could significantly help sustain and develop teams in the competitive League of Legends scene, especially during these challenging economic times.
