Latest news with #2025EsportsWorldCup
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First Post
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
Explained: Why chess and Carlsen's appearance at Esports World Cup 2025 is causing controversy
The chess tournament at the 2025 Esports World Cup has begun in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but not without controversy. Saudi Arabia's alleged sportswashing and Magnus Carlsen's ambassador role has raised concerns. read more The chess tournament at the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC) kicked off on Tuesday, 29 July. This is the first time that chess is officially part of the Esports World Cup. However, even before the tournament could gain momentum, a controversy surfaced, with fans criticising the inclusion of chess at EWC. A total of 16 players are participating for a prize pool of $1.5 million, with the winner of the four-day main event taking home $250,000. Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Arjun Erigaisi, Anish Giri, and Nihal Sarin are among the big names. So, what is the controversy that has embroiled the historic event? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why the controversy over chess at EWC? The Esports World Cup is backed by Saudi Arabia as it is being held in the capital Riyadh. Many critics are calling this another example of 'sportswashing.' Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries have been accused of using sports to improve the country's international image despite criticism over their human rights record. Some believe chess was included in the event to add more credibility, as most of the games that are part of the World Cup are not considered mainstream. Chess has a long history and prestige, and is watched by millions around the globe. Meanwhile, the EWC also announced five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen as 'brand ambassador.' Having someone like Carlsen on board adds more weight to the event. Carlsen is the current World No. 1 player and commands a huge fan base. Reports from big outlets like The New York Times and The Guardian have pointed out how Saudi Arabia is partnering with top athletes to promote itself. Football star Lionel Messi, for example, reportedly signed a $25 million contract with the country's tourism board. One of the clauses in Messi's contract reportedly prohibits him from saying anything negative about the country. It's not confirmed if Carlsen has a similar clause, but critics suggest that this has now become a pattern. Meanwhile, some fans have also argued that chess is not an esports and it shouldn't have been a part of the World Cup. However, the organisers believe that chess is an esports. All the matches are being played on computers, instead of a traditional board. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Also Read: Exclusive: Nihal Sarin to make Esports World Cup 2025 debut, says new format is the 'future of chess' What happened on Day 1? Grandmasters Levon Aronian (Group A), Arjun Erigaisi (Group B), Alireza Firouzja (Group C), and Magnus Carlsen (Group D) have each won two matches and made it to the Grand Finals of their groups at the World Cup. Meanwhile, some big names are still fighting to stay in the tournament. GMs Ian Nepomniachtchi, Vladislav Artemiev, and Andrey Esipenko are in the Losers' Bracket of Group A. In Group B, GMs Anish Giri, Nihal Sarin, and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave are trying to make a comeback. Group C's Losers Bracket includes GMs Javokhir Sindarov, Wei Yi, and Hikaru Nakamura. In Group D, GMs Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Fabiano Caruana, and Jan-Krzysztof Duda are still in the race. Day 2 of the tournament will take place on Wednesday, July 30. It will start at 5:30 PM IST.
Leaders
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Leaders
Esports World Cup: Week 3 Recap
Week 3 of the 2025 Esports World Cup has come to an end and Riyadh continues to deliver first-class esports action, with fans filling arenas while players fight for pride and glory. With the halfway point approaching, the pressure is starting to ramp up. More Clubs are starting to climb the Club Championship table with a unique Club winning each event so far making this the most competitive EWC yet. From nail-biting seven-game finals to GOAT performances, Week 3 had it all as we crowned three more champions. OpTic Gaming claimed the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 at 2025 Esports World Cup trophy after an epic best-of-seven, where the North American team secured a clean 4-0 victory in rapid fashion. 11 unique teams have now been crowned champions, as the points on the Club Championship leaderboard continue to shape up. We had a new EWC Honor of Kings game record, a Call of Duty retirement, and much more in another jam-packed week of EWC action. Here's everything you might have missed. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 OpTic Gaming are the champions of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 at the Esports World Cup 2025. The American team delivered solid performances throughout the event, building on their recent win at the Call of Duty League Championship to secure back-to-back LAN events, as they dominated Vancouver Surge in the grand final. The North American team swept aside their opponents in a 4-0 frenzy, banking 1000 Club Championship points in the process. Three-time world champion Anthony 'Shotzzy' Cuevas-Castro picked up the MVP award for his performances during the event, banking himself an extra $10,000 for doing so. When asked if he was the best player of all time after the win, he said, 'I don't tell people what I am, they tell me.' StarCraft II Joona 'Serral' Sotala took home the StarCraft II at 2025 Esports World Cup title, defeating Kim 'Classic' Doh-Woo 5-2 in a dominant best-of-nine. After a tough 2024 campaign, Serral returned stronger, entering the final as the favourite after a 4-0 semi-final win, and with his 2024 EWC opponent Clement 'Clem' Desplanches exiting early. Although expected to do well, Serral's control and dominance in the final surprised many. At 3-2, Serral took things to another level and won the last two maps, securing his third world title, having previously won championships in 2022 and 2024. He remained unbeaten en route to the grand final, dropping only two maps along the way, cementing his status as one of the greatest players in StarCraft II history. Honor of Kings World Cup 2025 took home the Honor of Kings World Cup at 2025 Esports World Cup top prize, beating TT Global 4-3 in the final. They earned $750,000, despite only playing three matches, after a tense final that could have gone either way until the end. Their win marks a different winner for all 11 completed championships to date this year, highlighting the competitiveness of the Club Championship. In the final, the two Chinese rivals faced off in a highly anticipated match. At one point, TT Global led 3-1 and was on match point, but fought back to tie, setting up a winner-takes-all final game. ultimately won the tournament in one of the closest series of the entire Esports World Cup. PUBG Mobile The PUBG MOBILE World Cup group stage at the Esports World Cup 2025 concluded with eight teams securing direct tickets to the grand finals. These include DRX, who came fourth last year and are the only 2024 top-eight team to qualify during the group stage, Weibo Gaming, IDA Esports, Alpha Gaming, Alter Ego Ares, TT Global, 4Thrives Esports, and Team Secret. Last year's champions, Alpha7 Esports, narrowly missed the top eight and will compete in the survival stage along with Team Falcons and Turkey's Regnum Carya Esports for the remaining eight spots. Advancing from the Survival Stage is vital for Alpha7 Esports to defend their EWC title for 2025 and possibly become back-to-back champions. Chess Four chess grandmasters have advanced through the Last Chance Qualifier to compete in the $1.5 million Chess at Esports World Cup event in Week 4. Golden tickets to the tournament were won by S8UL Esports star Nihal Sarin, Javokhir Sindarov, Levon Aronian, and Anish Giri following a thrilling eliminator that saw plenty of high-class chess and fierce competition. The field narrowed from 133 entrants to the final four over three days in Riyadh. The four qualifiers complete a 16-strong line-up for the main event, which include the likes of the world number one, Magnus Carlsen. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang The Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mid Season Cup at 2025 Esports World Cup got underway this week, after the Wildcard tournament in Week 1 saw the final team qualify for the main event. Week 3 saw Selangor Red Giants OG Esports, ONIC ID, ONIC PH, and Aurora Gaming advance to the next stage of the competition, completing the final eight teams ready to compete for the title. Next week is where the action will really heat up, as teams play for the lion's share of the $3 million prize pool. Club Championship After Week 3, Team Vitality remain out in front, with and Gen.G Esports both hot on their heels. Team Falcons, who won in 2024, are in fourth place with Team Heretics, Team Liquid, and Team Spirit all part of the chasing pack. With a unique winner so far in every grand final, the Club Championship is still all to play for. Other Content From The Week NOVA Esports Sets New KWC Record at EWC 2025 Records continue to be shattered at the Esports World Cup, especially during the Honor of Kings KWC 2025. On July 25, NOVA Esports faced Twisted Minds for third place, ending the first game in just 6 minutes and 23 seconds, marking a new record for the fastest game during the KWC. EWC 2025 winners held the previous record, who won their quarter-final game in 9 minutes and 13 seconds. NOVA Esports beat that record by an incredible 2 minutes 50 seconds, and while they were unable to make the grand final, it showed how dominant the side could be. YiNuo Becomes Two-Time EWC Champion Following victory at the KWC 2025, Xu 'YiNuo' Bicheng became a two-time Esports World Cup champion. He previously won the Honor of Kings Invitational Midseason 2024 with KPL Dream Team, held at EWC last year, meaning YiNuo now joins an exclusive list of players with back-to-back EWC wins. CoD World Champion Assault Announces Retirement Following EWC 2025 Former Call of Duty World Champion Adam 'Assault' Garcia announced his retirement on July 25, after Team WaR's elimination from the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 at the Esports World Cup 2025 competition. Assault, who joined Team WaR's CoD BO6 roster in February, previously won the Call of Duty World League Championship 2018 with Evil Geniuses, where he was MVP. He has had an impressive career, playing for teams like Cloud9 and LA Guerrillas, starting with the original Call of Duty: Black Ops. He will be a big loss for the pro CoD BO6 scene. Rackets Meet Gamepads as Pro Tennis Player Nick Kyrgios Takes on Pro Gamers Tennis pro Nick Kyrgios was spotted at the Esports World Cup, and after rubbing shoulders with some of the top pros in the esports world, he appeared on EWC Spotlight alongside British singer Tom Grennan and discussed his Esports World Cup tournament experience: 'I was a little kid in Canberra, growing up playing Tennis,' he said. 'And now I'm here for the [EWC]. I'm sitting next to some incredible people, meeting some incredible people — it's all a bonus'. Kyrgios sat down with the likes of Gentle Mates' Giancarlos 'oJohnny' Carrasco and Team Falcons' Amer 'Pred' Zulbeari, for a friendly Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 match ahead of the game's grand finals. Though the pros held their own, it seems they may have underestimated just how good the Australian Open winner was. 'And to play, and actually beat, some of the pros in Call of Duty? I mean, I'm going to get that tattooed,' said the tennis pro. ====================================================================== The Esports World Cup (EWC) is a premier annual sporting event and global celebration of competitive excellence and esports fandom. The competition features a unique cross-game format that pits the world's top esports Clubs against one another for the largest prize pool in esports history. Returning to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the summer of 2025, the EWC will bring gaming and esports communities together again to crown the next Esports World Cup Club Champion. Contact Us: For inquiries and feedback, or to be removed from this newsletter circulation, please contact at [email protected] Follow Us: Stay updated on the latest EWC news on our social media channels: Short link : Post Views: 11
Leaders
2 days ago
- Sport
- Leaders
OpTic Gaming Scoop the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 at 2025 Esports World Cup Title in a Thrilling Four Game Sweep
OpTic Gaming has won the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 at 2025 Esports World Cup, beating Vancouver Surge 4-0 in the grand final to become the 11th unique champion at the Esports World Cup 2025. After strong performances across the four days of competition, OpTic Gaming are the champions of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 at the Esports World Cup 2025. The American organisation, which finished in the top four in last year's event, capped off an incredible end to the year with the win. In doing so, they beat Vancouver Surge in a Best-of-Seven without dropping a game, having also beaten them in the Call of Duty League Championship final just weeks ago. The tournament, which is one of the biggest on the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 calendar, saw 18 of the world's best Call of Duty teams head to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to battle it out over a $1,800,000 prize pool, of which OpTic Gaming will now take home $600,000. The win also secures their qualification for EWC 2026. Claiming first Esports World Cup title The victory sees OpTic win their first Esports World Cup title, a welcome victory alongside the CDL Championship win, having faced a tough start to the 2025 season. Struggling to overcome those difficulties, OpTic made two changes between last year's event and this year's, bringing in Cuyler 'Huke' Garland and Mason 'Mercules' Ramsey, who both pulled off big performances in order to deliver their team the trophy. 'Well, last time we played them, we knew we probably should have won 5-1, so. We just honed in on our mistakes and made that look easy,' said Team OpTic's Mason 'Mercules' Ramsey. 'Honestly, once we won against Team Heretics, we knew we were winning it as long as we just played our game. Definitely proud of myself, super thankful to my teammates. You guys are the best in the world.' Anthony 'Shotzzy' Cuevas-Castro was named the SONY MVP following the impressive 4-0 sweep in the final. He will receive an additional $10,000 and the MVP medal to recognise his achievements. 'Undeniably, the players on this team are unbelievably talented,' said MVP Anthony 'Shotzzy' Cuevas-Castro. 'It feels like we are cheating at times!' OpTic Gaming earns 1000 Club Championship points for their victory. This is OpTic Gaming's first victory at the Esports World Cup 2025, and puts them in joint ninth place as things stand. OpTic Gaming still have chances to secure a crucial second top eight finish during the remaining events at the EWC 25. Short link : Post Views: 17
Leaders
2 days ago
- Sport
- Leaders
Team Vitality Tops Club Rankings After Week 3 of 2025 Esports World Cup
Following the conclusion of three tournaments in the third week of the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC), Team Vitality has retained its lead in the overall club rankings with 2,400 points. holds second place with 1,950 points, while Gen.G Esports trails closely in third with 1,800 points. Team Falcons ranks fourth with 1,750 points, and rounds out the top five at 1,500 points. Team Heretics sits in sixth place with 1,300 points. Two clubs share seventh place, with both Team Spirit and Team Liquid earning 1,200 points. The third week of competition in Riyadh has seen rising momentum and increasingly decisive matchups across several tournaments. While some events are nearing their highly anticipated finals, others are just getting underway, carrying with them the hopes of clubs and players from around the world. The Esports World Cup continues to cement its reputation as the largest celebration of competitive gaming globally—not only for its record-breaking prize pool and the diversity of games featured but also for the high level of competition and an immersive fan experience that has drawn thousands of enthusiasts and players from across continents. Serving as a premier international platform, the EWC brings together top-tier esports clubs in multi-title showdowns, offering the largest prize pool in the history of the sport. The event runs through August in Riyadh, which has emerged as a global hub for gaming and digital competition. Current Club Rankings (after Week 3): Team Vitality – 2,400 pts AL – 1,950 pts G Esports – 1,800 pts Team Falcons – 1,750 pts pro – 1,500 pts Team Heretics – 1,300 pts Team Spirit – 1,200 pts (tied) & Team Liquid – 1,200 pts (tied) Short link : Post Views: 140
Leaders
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Leaders
Indonesia's EVOS Divine Clinches ‘Free Fire' Title at Esports World Cup 2025
Indonesia's EVOS Divine secured the Free Fire Title at the Esports World Cup (EWC 2025) after five days of intense competition, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The Free Fire tournament featured the participations of 18 teams from all over the world, competing for the sake of a total prize pool of $1 million. EVOS Divine defeated 12 teams in the Grand Final, which included 10 exciting matches and five teams potentially claiming the title. EVOS Divine However, the Indonesian team eventually clinched the title after scoring 170 points, securing the championship trophy and $300,000. Meanwhile, RRQ Kazu secured second place with 123 points, receiving $180,000 in prize money and an additional 750 points in the overall rankings. Bigetron by Vitality clinched third place, winning $120,000 and 500 points, while Brazilian team LOS finished fourth with 300 points and $80,000. EVOS Divine By concluding the Free Fire tournament, the curtain falls on the second week of the 2025 Esports World Cup, which featured other tournaments in popular games such as League of Legends, Dota 2, and the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Women's Invitational (MWI). 2025 Esports World Cup Currently, the 2025 Esports World Cup is bringing together 24 of the world's top games in one venue. Interestingly, participants are competing for a total prize pool of $70 million, the highest amount ever allocated in esports history. Such prestigious awards seek basically to encourage global talents and unleash unparalleled new heights for esports competitions. Therefore, they play a central role in boosting the esports sector, supporting its sustainable growth, and ensuring its sustainability worldwide. Related Topics: Gen.G Esports Secures 'League of Legends' Title at Esports World Cup 2025 Russian Team Spirit Clinches Dota 2 Title at 2025 Esports World Cup\ Esports World Cup 2025: Prince Faisal Reveals Tournament's Grand Vision Short link : Post Views: 25
