Imagine the atmosphere: You're sitting in the dark with a headset on, the screen lights up in your face, and in the background the cheers of the crowd from Rio ad thousand are booming. The best teams in the world are fighting for the titles at Esports World Cup 2025 (EWC) in Saudi Arabia – an event that takes gaming to the highest level. Expect intense action from late July to late August, as the tournament brings together 24 games and 25 events in Riyadh . The event features a record-breaking prize pool ($70 million) across in-game tournaments, club events, and MVP prizes. Now it's time to keep your mouth shut as the world's best CS2, League of Legends, and Dota 2 teams take to the field.
EWC 2025: dates, venue and tournament format
EWC 2025 will run for seven weeks from July 8 to August 24, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event is the second consecutive year of what was previously known as Gamers8, which this year includes titles such as League of Legends, Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2 among 24 games. Each game has its own qualifying schedule, but the finals for each title count collectively as EWC championships. Formats vary: for example, Counter-Strike 2 will be held as a single-elimination playoff over five days, while Dota 2 uses group play followed by gauntlet brackets and finally a final bracket. A total of 16 teams compete in each of these top tournaments. The total prize pool of $70.45 million breaks previous records. – that's more than double the last one, and far more than even Dota 2's own The International's 40 million budget.
Key facts about EWC 2025: Dates: July 8 – Aug. 24, 2025. Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Prize pool: $70.45 million. Number of games: 24, spread over 25 events over seven weeks. Each tournament – such as League of Legends or Dota 2 – has group and playoff stages as its classic structures. In addition, players compete for points in a joint club tournament, where esports organizations compete across games for an additional common prize pool.
Biggest titles: CS2, League of Legends and Dota 2
Counter-Strike 2 (CS2): The EWC 2025 CS2 tournament will take place from August 20–24, featuring 16 top teams from around the world. The total prize pool is $1,250,000, with the winner receiving $500,000 – an increase from $1,000,000 the previous year. The tournament is an elite showcase hosted by ESL FACEIT, with the top 16 teams invited via Valve's world rankings. Single-elimination knockout matches will decide the championship. In 2024, Natus Vincere The EWC tour and scored $400,000 in prize money, while heavy favorites like Vitality – Gamers8 champions from 2023 – also have close titles to defend. At EWC 2025, we can expect legendary teams like FaZe Clan, NAVI, G2 and Vitality to face off, all with experience from high-profile majors.
League of Legends (LoL): The LoL tournament will run from July 16–20, 2025, with 12 elite clubs from all continents. The prize pool is $2,000,000, divided over a bracket playoff. The tournament will feature top names such as T1 (South Korea), Fnatic and G2 Esports (Europe) and North and South American champions. These organizations all have a history of winning international and regional titles – G2, for example, has won seven LEC titles in a row, matching Fnatic’s record. In addition, EWC 2025 is officially partnered with Riot Games, so there will be high stakes and serious branding in the LoL challenge.
Dota 2: The world's largest Dota tournament at EWC 2025 will run from July 8th to 19th, with 16 teams. The format is classic: Group stage preliminary rounds, followed by a gauntlet and finally a single-elimination playoff (July 16th to 19th). The prize pool is $3,000,000. The team roster will likely include potential TI finalists such as PSG.LGD , Team Spirit and Evil Geniuses , as well as the all-star team OG , who became the first team to win The International two years in a row (2018+2019). Dota fans can expect close matches, mental drama, and plenty of big wins – we’re talking about a stage where teams like OG and Team Spirit have broken records before.
Star-studded teams and history
Top games attract top organizations. In Counter-Strike, teams like NAVI (always among the world's top 5), FaZe Clan , G2 , Complexity and Vitality guarantees top results. NAVI were EWC 2024 champions ( hltv.org) , while Vitality won Riyadh Masters 2023 (Gamers8) ( hltv.org ) . Many of the teams also have victories from CS:GO Majors in the bag, and the big names often deliver finals.
In League of Legends, grand old teams appear as Fnatic , G2 Esports and Korean T1 up. Fnatic was the first European team to win a Worlds title (Season 1) and has won several LEC and MSI trophies, while G2 currently sits on seven LEC triumphs ( lol.fandom.com) . From China and Korea come champions from the LPL and LCK (e.g. JDG , Gen.G , DWG KIA ), and from the USA/South America top teams such as Evil Geniuses and Rainbow7 . These clubs have experience from international events such as the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) and the World Championship.
The Dota 2 scene is just as full of stars. OG 's double win at TI (2018+2019) stands as a milestone ( espn.com ) . Team Spirit surprised everyone by winning TI10 in 2021, while PSG.LGD repeatedly made it to the podium in 2018 and 2021. American teams like Evil Geniuses and European teams like Team Liquid or Ninjas in Pyjamas have also pulled off big prizes. In general, the Dota scene is notoriously fickle, but the aforementioned names have repeatedly proven that they can handle pressure and go all the way in international tournaments.
E-sports on the rise – figures and trends
Esports is growing explosively: Worldwide, it is expected over 640 million people to follow e-sports events in 2025 ( demandsage.com) , of which 318 million dedicated fans and 322 million occasional viewers. At the same time, the industry's annual turnover is estimated at around $2.89 billion globally. In comparison, TI's prize pool in 2019 was almost $34 million – and EWC 2025 breaks all records with $70 million at stake ( demandsage.com) . These figures show that gaming has truly become a popular sport. At the same time, experts confirm that professional equipment – including mouse pads – plays a major role in the results. As Counter-Strike pro Taz puts it: “Good movement… good aim… and then you need to have a good headset”( espn.com ) – and so does the quality of your surface. A non-slip, precise mouse pad ensures that all mouse movements are registered consistently In fact, Dota and CS2 players have found that simply switching to an unfamiliar mouse pad can ruin their game .
Top-class mouse pads: Orbit's Surface One
For gamers who prioritize performance and style, Orbits is Surface One mouse pad is an obvious choice. According to Orbits' own descriptions, the Surface One series was developed with a focus on boats aesthetics and performance. It has a micro-textured, water-repellent surface that ensures fast and precise mouse movements, as well as a non-slip neoprene base, so the mat stays in place no matter how intensely you play. The design is discreet and stylish – for example, the mat is available in all black or with subtle patterns – so it fits into both home offices, living rooms and game rooms without making a fuss with flashy colors or prints.
This is how the Surface One stands out from mass-produced mouse pads with uncoordinated aesthetics. Where many cheap gaming mats benefit from USB lights and cartoon motifs, the Surface One is all about pure functionality. You get the same quality materials that top tournament teams demand: a flat, uniform surface, double-stitched edges for durability. In short, it's an understated "pro-gamer" gear that goes hand in hand with serious gaming - even when you're working or surfing. It fits any setup and emphasizes simplicity over unnecessary gimmicks orbits.dk .
Conclusion
The Esports World Cup 2025 is set to be one of the most spectacular gaming events of the year, with plenty of action, excitement, victories and surprises. The tournament will bring together the world's best teams in CS2, LoL and Dota 2 – all players who are used to winning titles and prizes at the highest level. With a historic prize pool and a format spread across the summer, the EWC will gather millions of viewers globally. Whether you're a seasoned esports fan or just enjoy gaming at home, it's important to have good equipment – because in the end, it's all about precision and comfort So, is your setup ready for EWC 2025 – and do you dare to take the win at home in your living room?
