For the first time in its history, the Esports World Cup (EWC) will feature VALORANT as part of its expansive lineup. Thanks to a multi-year partnership between the Esports World Cup Foundation and Riot Games, VALORANT will be included at the EWC for at least the next three years, with millions in prize money up for grabs. The 2025 edition will feature 25 esports tournaments and a record-breaking $70 million total prize pool.
VALORANT Tournament Format
The inaugural VALORANT tournament at EWC 2025 will host 16 top-tier teams from the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) regions. Teams will be split into four double-elimination groups, with the top two from each progressing to the single-elimination playoffs.
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Group Stage: Matches are best-of-three, except for the first round, which is best-of-one.
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Playoffs: All rounds are best-of-three, culminating in a best-of-five grand final to crown the EWC VALORANT champion.
Qualified Teams
The first wave of qualified teams earned their spots by finishing in the top two of their respective VCT Stage 1 leagues:
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Americas: G2 Esports, Sentinels
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EMEA: Fnatic, Team Heretics
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Pacific: Rex Regum Qeon (RRQ), Gen.G Esports
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China: Bilibili Gaming, XLG Esports
Additional teams qualified through regional EWC qualifiers:
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China: EDward Gaming, Titan Esports Club (via China Evolution Series)
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EMEA: BBL Esports, Karmine Corp
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Pacific: Paper Rex, DRX
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Americas: NRG, 100 Thieves
Prize Pool Breakdown
Out of the massive $70M prize pool, the VALORANT event alone offers $1.25 million:
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🥇 Champion: $500,000
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🥈 Runner-Up: $230,000
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🥉 Third Place: $130,000
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Fourth: $70,000
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5th–8th: $40,000 each
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9th–12th: $25,000 each
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13th–16th: $15,000 each
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🌟 MVP Bonus: $10,000
In addition, teams earn points contributing to the Club Championship, a cross-game leaderboard offering up to $7 million extra for the top-performing organization.
Teams to Watch
Expect high-caliber play across the board. G2 Esports, reigning VCT Americas champions, enter as favorites alongside rivals Sentinels. In EMEA, Fnatic and Team Heretics are finding form. Gen.G (Pacific) and Paper Rex, fresh off a Masters Toronto win, are also major threats. With every top region represented, the EWC 2025 promises some of the most intense VALORANT action yet.
How to Watch
The VALORANT tournament at EWC 2025 begins in July. Fans can catch all the action live on the official Esports World Cup Twitch channel, featuring full coverage of matches, highlights, and behind-the-scenes content throughout the two-month-long event.