Esports World Cup begins in Saudi Arabia with record-breaking £51.5 million prize pot
The Esports World Cup (EWC), taking place in Boulevard City, Riyadh, will see 2,000 players and 200 clubs take part in 25 tournaments until August 24. More than 2.6 million people are expected to attend the event.
Hosted in a specially built village with arenas seating up to 2,000 people, the tournament features 24 games, including Call Of Duty, League Of Legends and chess.
The sport constitutes part of the Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to invest in different areas to diversify the kingdom's GDP and create 39,000 jobs.
The esports industry has been steadily growing in popularity and Saudi Arabia has faced criticism and accusations of 'sportswashing' – investing in sporting events like EWC to distract from alleged wrongdoing and present a favourable image.
Multiple stakeholders resigned from the Esports Awards panel after it announced a three-year partnership with EWC in 2024.
But Mike McCabe, the chief operating officer of the Esports World Cup Foundation that runs the competition, said the investment from the kingdom reflected the interests of the Saudi population – with nearly 70% identifying as gamers.
He said: 'Sportswashing really implies that we're trying to change the reputation through sport. It's just not true. We're meeting the dreams and the ambitions of the people who live here. The majority of people who live in this country love games and love sports, and so why not give them the biggest show on Earth?
'When it comes to individual choices, we encourage people to come and visit – come and see for yourself.'
Mr McCabe said that EWC was making strides to appeal to a wider, non-gamer audience – with Cristiano Ronaldo as the cup's ambassador and rapper Post Malone performing at the sold–out opening ceremony on Thursday.
Mr McCabe has been involved in esports since the mid-2000s and said the sport, which started in South Korea, has grown gradually.
He said: 'If you look at football or athletics, they've grown over hundreds of years.
'Esports is very new in comparison, and it's growing in a different way.
'The games that people play are the ideas of publishers, which is different from traditional sports, where it's an international or a sporting federation who ultimately go and maintain that.
'What drew me to this project was because the EWC has the support and the ability to bring multiple games together into one amazing festival that can extend for many weeks and bring fans on multiple journeys during the course of that – it's really unique in the industry.'
At least 54 UK nationals and two British teams, called Fnatic and Wolves, will be competing over the eight weeks, although that number could rise as there are qualifying events ongoing.
The club championship is a cross-game format that pits international clubs against one another for the largest prize pool in the sport's history.
Each win grants clubs points and the top-ranked one at the end is crowned the world cup champion.
Ahead of the tournament, the EWC Festival for fans has taken place – with community esports tournaments, anime cafes, cosplay and retro arcades, something Mr McCabe called 'a celebration of gaming '.
Fans across the world will be able to tune in on major streaming platforms, including Twitch and YouTube, and by watching live feeds from gaming influencers.
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BBC News
6 hours ago
- BBC News
England retain European title with dramatic win over Spain
Update: Date: 22:30 BST Title: Goodnight! Content: What a night. The England celebrations will go long into the night through to the homecoming party tomorrow. We'll bring you all the updates from that and you can stay across all our content from another incredible night for the Lionesses on the Euro 2025 page. For now though, thanks for joining us on what has been a chaotic, dramatic, wonderful tournament in Switzerland with the Lionesses coming out on top. They have put us through the mill. But it's all been worth it. Only 697 days to go until the 2027 World Cup in Brazil - the countdown is on, right? This video can not be played England beat Spain on penalties to win Euro 2025 Update: Date: 22:28 BST Title: Post Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens) Pride, disbelief and pure passion. This is what it means. This video can not be played Russo says back-to-back Euro titles feels 'surreal' This video can not be played Williamson proud of 'relentless' England This video can not be played 'I'm so proud to be English! - Kelly reflects on Euros win This video can not be played 'This team always has belief' - Wiegman praises Lionesses after Euros triumph Update: Date: 22:27 BST Title: Post Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens) Now we've all calmed down, let's relive what happened. After a solid start, England went down a goal when Mariona Caldentey headed home to give the world champions the lead at half time. This video can not be played 'It's a gorgeous Spain goal!' - Caldentey header breaks deadlock But this England team don't lie down that easily and Alessia Russo's bullet header got them back on level terms in the 57th minute. This video can not be played Russo header equalises for England in Euro final Extra time followed but neither side could find a winner. This video can not be played Kelly denied by fingertip save from Cata Coll And of course to penalties. Because England haven't already put us through enough at this tournament. A nail-biting shoot out saw only four penalties scored. This video can not be played Relive the penalty shootout that saw England win Euro 2025 But crucially Chloe Kelly scored the winner to retain England's crown. Against all the odds. This video can not be played Kelly scores from the spot to win Euro 2025 for England Update: Date: 22:26 BST Title: Post Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens) Let the celebrations (and the pizza party) begin... Update: Date: 22:25 BST Title: 'Every single game has challenged us' Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens) England England boss Sarina Wiegman speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: 'I am pretty calm during the games. This tournament every single game has challenged us. We took those on board and how the team recovered from some setbacks, again today we went behind, but how we come back and how we kept working together and so hard and also then win. That's the most important thing." On Jess Carter: 'Before the tournament I said I was very happy with the squad because we had many players in the squad and several players that can play in the same position bit bring different qualities. Before the Italy game we took the decision to start Esme because we thought we would have the ball a lot. "[Today] we felt that we needed Jess and her special qualities on the pitch because we had to defend a lot too – she is also very calm on the ball but we are talking super strengths. It says a lot about the team and a lot about her and her strong personality that she was ready to play. That is what she showed today.' On Chloe Kelly: 'She loves those moments. That is her super strength, taking penalties but also doing that at the most important moment with the most consequence of being successful or not. Yeah I love it.' On what it means to win the Euros yet again: "You know what, I don't realise it yet. I am still in the stage where it's 'this is unbelievable' 'did this really happen?' So I can't answer this question. Very, very happy but a little strange Just unbelievable.' Update: Date: 22:24 BST Title: 'If Sarina tells me to jump, I say how high?' Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens) England Captain Leah Williamson speaking to BBC Sport: "The girls put in a defensive performance for the ages. I don't have the words. This was hard fought, three years ago was a fairy tale, everything went our way but this year it didn't." On the impact of winning: "[It's] consistency as a team, success for us and for the football. The difference we've made off the pitch to show the young girls they can be us and to show young boys everyone is welcome." On Sarina Wiegman: "I thought two [Euros titles] was good but she's doing well with three. She's just an amazing woman. She stands by us on and off the pitch. But when she makes a decision, and it's a sign of a good coach, I never question it. "If she tells me to jump, I say how high? I think that's a sign of somebody well-respected." Update: Date: 22:23 BST Title: 'The journey has been incredible' Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens) England Sarina Wiegman on Chloe Kelly: "Every player has their own story. Every story is incredible. Her story is out in the open and I'm so happy for her. She has been fighting to come back to her highest level. She really wanted to take that penalty. To be able to score it under that pressure is incredible." On the Lionesses celebrations: 'I'll do some more dancing. I'll have a drink but I don't think I'll drink as much as the players will do." On Hannah Hampton: 'You really have to step up and show it and so did she. I think she's done amazing. It's a very bit like a fairy tale to stop those penalties in the final of the Euros and to win it." On England's journey: 'I don't watch movies back so often but I will probably look and see some things back. The journey has been incredible. In the training sessions, everything around the team was very calm." "Just the games were chaotic! That was hard work for everyone but afterwards it was all very calm. The facilities were incredible and the support from the Swiss people were incredible. It was really enjoyable.' Update: Date: 22:22 BST Title: 'I was like are you sure?' Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens) England Jess Carter on coming back into the starting line-up: "I think it was a great decision to not play me against Italy. Esme [Morgan] came in and did a phenomenal job. I don't think my performances have been up to par to be honest so, to see Esme come in and do such an incredible job, I was so happy for her. "Sarina told me before training that she was going to play me [in the final] and I was like 'are you sure?'. "That's how I felt after the job Esme did but the faith that Sarina showed in me and how she believed I could go out there today meant a lot." Update: Date: 22:21 BST Title: 'There's no better feeling' Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens) England Ella Toone speaking to BBC Sport: "Amazing feeling. I felt all the same emotions as I did back then [at Euro 2022]. We worked so hard, winning a tournament for your country - there's no better feeling. We deserved that and we should be so proud of ourselves. "There were times when people thought we were down and out but we never did. We had that belief in the squad that we were going to come out and win. "That's the quiet confidence we have in ourselves. Amazing feeling. We're going to enjoy the night. I love a party, I'm a Tyldesley girl of course I love a party." Update: Date: 22:20 BST Title: 'This tournament can prove anything can happen' Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens) England England's Lauren Hemp, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "I am absolutely shattered, but you know what, I don't care. 'It is just as special the second time round. 'It's definitely not been easy. One thing this team can promise you is we will never give up. 'Today we showed that in abundance. 'Throughout the tournament there have been tough moments, but we have always shown that grit and determination to come back, and it is not luck when it happens more than once. "It is hard work and determination. 'It is important as a team that we know we're always in it. From the previous games, we knew, no matter what the score was at the time, we were going to be able to get back into the game. 'We had positives going into the second half. We held on and we worked so hard. We tried to get a goal early, so it didn't have to go to a penalty shoutout, but it sums up a great tournament all round. 'I had full faith in Hannah to save at least once, and she did that. We always count on her. When Chloe went up to take it, it was a no-brainer for me. I wasn't next so I was pretty chilled. 'I think this tournament can prove anything can happen. I'm so proud of everyone because of the hard work that we all put in, and we all deserve this moment.' Update: Date: 22:18 BST Title: 'I hope it will push the women's game even more' Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens) England Sarina Wiegman: 'I hope it will push the women's game even more. The level went up again. The intensity of the games went through the roof. I just think this tournament broke every record again with spectators and the television views. "I hope that will boost the women's game everywhere and not only in England. I don't know what to expect now in England. I think it will just boost again.' 'When the game is on I don't really enjoy it. Of course I do when we score. What stood out? The fight. We had to defend very well but we gave everything to prevent a goal and I do enjoy that. It says something about the team and a will to want to win. Update: Date: 22:17 BST Title: 'The least I can do is save a couple of pens' Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens) England England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live on if she's confident on penalties: "Ooh no. I think it all depends. If the pens are working in our favour then I enjoy those moments because I can help the team out, but if the pens aren't going in our favour then I'm thinking there's a lot more pressure on it than normal because I've got to keep us in it and save a few. "But no the girls have run around for 120 minutes, so the least I can do is save a couple of pens here and there and help the team out in any way I can. 'We did our game plan to a tee. People were probably looking at us and thinking 'why have we dropped off? Why are we not pressing?' But pressing a team like Spain, you are just going to be running around, and if we did that for 120 minutes I'm sure we would have got tired a lot quicker than what we did. ' Update: Date: 22:14 BST Title: 'We make things hard for ourselves' Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens) England England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live on the mentality of the squad: 'I think we are English aren't we? We have the English blood, the grit and the determination. We make things hard for ourselves. We had a lot of critics after the first game, we didn't play amazing and we knew that. As a team we got together an really got behind each other and played to each other's strengths and played with confidence and freedom against Netherlands and Wales to get us out of the group. "As much as we have had the critics on our backs we have not let it sink into the camp, we've not let it get into us as a team. We know what everyone is capable of and we know what everyone's individual qualities are and we played to that. To say throughout the tournament we have done to be standing here right now with a winners medal." Update: Date: 22:11 BST Title: 'Don't give up' Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens) England England's Michelle Agyemang, speaking to BBC One: "I am so happy. I think I have cried - I am so grateful! "It was so hard coming from a loss in the first game to this. Everything happens for a reason. We are European champions. "I think it is surreal to come this far so quickly - it is only by the grace of God. "Everyone has put in the effort to put me where I am." On inspiring others: "Don't give up. When you see other people progressing faster than you are back yourself, believe in your abilities and trust in your abilities. You'll get there." On the afterparty: "I can't say too much about that. We're going to have a good time." Update: Date: 22:09 BST Title: Post Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens) Michelle Agyemang has gone from being a ball girl at Wembley a few years ago to becoming a European champion. At 19-years-old. Incredible. Read more about her journey here. Update: Date: 22:07 BST Title: 'A lot of stunned England faces' Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens) Gary FlintoffBBC Radio 5 Live reporter at St. Jakob-Park I have just come out of the interview zones. Irene Paredes and Aitana Bonmati were really disappointed. They said it was really hard to get their heads around because they played so, so well. They were gracious in the way they spoke about England and the fact it didn't quite work out for them. England-wise, there were quite a lot of stunned looks on faces. Not quite sure how they managed to do it, but an underlying belief that they always had the ability to do it. Lauren Hemp told me it was a bit of a blur, while Sarina Wiegman said she is not quite sure what happened. I told her 'you have won it' and she said 'no I know that, I have seen the trophy'. Lucy Bronze literally walked on one-legged, but the England players were really smiley and happy, but absolutely drained. Update: Date: 22:04 BST Title: 'Wiegman gave me hope' - Kelly Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens) England Chloe Kelly on Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman: 'She's an incredible person. She gave me hope when I probably didn't have any. She gave me an opportunity to represent my country again. "What she has done for the women's game – not just in England, but the Netherlands and the whole women's game – has been unbelievable. I'm so grateful to work with such amazing staff members." Update: Date: 22:00 BST Title: 'Thank you to everyone that wrote me off' Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens) England Chloe Kelly: "There were a lot of tears at full-time, especially when I saw my family because those are the ones who got me through those dark moments. "I am so grateful to be out the back end. "If that's a story to tell someone that maybe experiencing something the same - tough times don't last. Just around the corner was a Champions League final, won that, and now a Euros final, won that. "So, thank you to everyone that wrote me off. "I'm grateful." Update: Date: 21:58 BST Title: Post Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens) Earlier this year it was doubtful whether Chloe Kelly would even make this England squad. She moved from Manchester City to Arsenal in search of minutes with the Euros in her mind and was open about her unhappiness at not playing. Since then she has won the Champions League with Arsenal and has now got it done for England at the Euros. Again. The confidence she has displayed at this tournament. She absolutely thrives on that role she has been given. Big game player. Update: Date: 21:56 BST Title: 'I try to believe in myself as much as possible' Content: FT: England 1-1 Spain (3-1 on pens) England England forward Chloe Kelly on the spinning the ball before taking a penalty: "Honestly it's just making sure that I'm ready and not letting anyone take me off my routine. I spin the ball until I feel like it's right, and then when I am ready there is no amount of time, just when I feel like it's the perfect one, whether that be ten times, I make sure it's ten times. "It is just part of my routine just like my breath work is, I try to stick to my routine as much as possible and believe in myself in those moments."
South Wales Argus
6 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Agyemang can inspire next generation of Lionesses, former coach says
Youngsters from Agyemang's hometown gathered at a small community centre in South Ockendon, Essex, to cheer on the Lionesses to victory at the Euro 2025 final. The biggest applause was for the 19 year-old striker who just a few years ago was also playing at Brandon Groves FC. Agyemang was named The Young Player of the Tournament on Sunday as England triumphed on penalties against Spain after a 1-1 draw. On Sunday, Roy Enright, 45, who manages the girls' team of under 13-year-olds, said: 'We are proud of Michelle, obviously, but we are also proud of our our girls' team here who play and train every week. They are consistent. 'Michelle's success and the Lionesses' success will only help that and it will only drive our girls on even further over the next year. It will also bring more girls into football locally as well.' He said it was 'amazing' to see Agyemang scoop the Young Player award after scoring two goals, making six attempts and having a 77.5% passing accuracy rating in the competition. Paula Howes, vice chair of Brandon Grove FC, said: 'I think she (Agyemang) has got that determination and that drive on the pitch, and the girls can connect with that. 'It is also knowing that she is a local girl as well, I think that helps give them the motivation and drive, to know that you can start at grassroots football and progress up to the higher level, if you work at it.' Agyemang was named Young Player of the Tournament (Nick Potts/PA) Agyemang, who had one England cap before the tournament, has been a rising star in this competition, and twice became the team's saviour with equalisers in their quarter-final and semi-final comebacks. The 19-year-old came off the bench to score crucial equalisers against Sweden in the quarter-final and Italy in the last four. She also came on as a substitute in the final as England eventually saw off Spain on penalties to retain the trophy. Agyemang was picked as young player of the tournament by the Uefa Technical Observer Group who for her outstanding impact, both individually and for England. They said: 'Michelle made a great contribution to help England reach the final. 'She came on and both times got the goals that England needed to get through.' Lena Kowalska, 12, who plays midfield for the local team, said she was really impressed and inspired by Agyemang. She said: 'It is the fact that at her age, she can already be playing in the Euros and with the top women, it just makes me feel that we could do it one day if we are hard working as well.'
The Herald Scotland
7 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Agyemang can inspire next generation of Lionesses, former coach says
The biggest applause was for the 19 year-old striker who just a few years ago was also playing at Brandon Groves FC. Agyemang was named The Young Player of the Tournament on Sunday as England triumphed on penalties against Spain after a 1-1 draw. On Sunday, Roy Enright, 45, who manages the girls' team of under 13-year-olds, said: 'We are proud of Michelle, obviously, but we are also proud of our our girls' team here who play and train every week. They are consistent. 'Michelle's success and the Lionesses' success will only help that and it will only drive our girls on even further over the next year. It will also bring more girls into football locally as well.' He said it was 'amazing' to see Agyemang scoop the Young Player award after scoring two goals, making six attempts and having a 77.5% passing accuracy rating in the competition. Paula Howes, vice chair of Brandon Grove FC, said: 'I think she (Agyemang) has got that determination and that drive on the pitch, and the girls can connect with that. 'It is also knowing that she is a local girl as well, I think that helps give them the motivation and drive, to know that you can start at grassroots football and progress up to the higher level, if you work at it.' Agyemang was named Young Player of the Tournament (Nick Potts/PA) Agyemang, who had one England cap before the tournament, has been a rising star in this competition, and twice became the team's saviour with equalisers in their quarter-final and semi-final comebacks. The 19-year-old came off the bench to score crucial equalisers against Sweden in the quarter-final and Italy in the last four. She also came on as a substitute in the final as England eventually saw off Spain on penalties to retain the trophy. Agyemang was picked as young player of the tournament by the Uefa Technical Observer Group who for her outstanding impact, both individually and for England. They said: 'Michelle made a great contribution to help England reach the final. 'She came on and both times got the goals that England needed to get through.' Lena Kowalska, 12, who plays midfield for the local team, said she was really impressed and inspired by Agyemang. She said: 'It is the fact that at her age, she can already be playing in the Euros and with the top women, it just makes me feel that we could do it one day if we are hard working as well.'
