From April to June, the elite esports group Team Vitality held the top rank in Valve’s Counter-Strike 2 regional standings (VRS). This current ranking will decide which teams are eligible to compete in upcoming major events.

Team Vitality holds 2124 points in the standings, and the second highest is MOUZ with 1922 points. The third goes to Team Spirit with 1905, and Team Falcons with 1888 points. So far, nobody has come close to Vitality having more than 2000 points. 

By taking the top rank, Team Vitality is guaranteed to attend the IEM Cologne, which starts on July 27. Only the top 24 teams from the VRS will be invited to the event. The winners will share a prize pool of $1m (£780,000), with $400,000 (£312,000) to be awarded to the first place. 

Another event where Team Vitality will be invited is the Esports World Cup. Only the top 15 teams from the VRS will be eligible to join.

Team Vitality’s 2025 run is going smoothly. One of their recent achievements is placing first in the IEM 2025 Dallas and winning an ESL Grand Slam 2025 award. 

Visit here for more esports updates 

The Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025 will offer a $70 million prize pool, the largest in gaming history. This event features over 2,000 players and 200 global teams focusing on top games like Valorant, League of Legends, and more. They will compete in 25 tournaments in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 to August 24, 2025.

However, this huge event raises questions about how it will affect the esports scene. This article explores the good and bad sides of this massive event and what it means for the future of esports.

The issue with the $70M prize pool

Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF), sees the $70 million prize pool as a big step forward for esports. However, Reichert also admitted that this kind of prize can disrupt the current esports scene. He said the goal should be to support and grow the existing ecosystem, not harm it. 

The event also faces other issues due to its ties with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and the Esports Awards. Critics argue that this partnership is about ‘sportswashing�? where they use sports assets to boost a country's image instead of supporting the community. The EWCF denied these claims and explained that it’s financed through host nation support and sponsorships.

Is the $70M prize progress or pressure for esports?

The $70 million prize pool could help esports grow or put too much pressure on the industry. While it shows esports has potential, it's unclear if the industry is ready for such a big event. 

Smart move

This huge investment is a smart move for esports as it has many benefits:

• Exposure: The big prize will grab media attention, making esports more visible. It will also help esports compete with regular sports and change others�?view of it as a simple hobby.
• Long-term growth: It can help esports build a solid footing. Players may also land bigger deals, join elite teams, and secure solid contracts.

Risky play

Meanwhile, the $70 million prize comes with risks. It may give too much control to large investors and change how the industry works.

• Control: Powerful sponsors may push esports to benefit them, not the community.
• Exclusivity: The focus may shift to top players and teams, leaving smaller or lesser-known gamers with fewer chances.

The balance between progress and influence

The 2025 EWC could shape the future of esports in a good way or send it down the wrong path. As esports grow, players, teams, and fans must stay active and ensure things are fair. How the industry handles this event will decide what comes next—either more doors will open, or some will quietly close.

Explore more esports features and insights here

The Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025 is set to be a game-changer for the industry. While it will showcase the best teams from around the world, its impact will reach far beyond the competition. 

With many esports clubs facing rising costs and shrinking funds, the EWC Club Partner Program offers a rare lifeline. By giving teams a chance to earn through marketing, content, and fan engagement, the event aims to push the drive towards long-term growth.

How the program works

The Club Partner Program pays 40 teams based on how well they promote the event, which includes content creation, social media reach, and fan engagement. The more creative and active a team is, the bigger their payout. Even smaller clubs can thrive by running smart, engaging campaigns, even if they don't win many matches.

Hans Jagnow, Director of Team and Player Relations for the EWC Foundation said, ‘It’s all about putting fans at the centre, connecting them with the EWC storylines of their favourite Clubs and players, and enabling them to expand their brands through these opportunities. Last but not least, we have more Clubs while maintaining a strong funding level, setting the partnership up for overall growth with our investment�?

For top clubs, this is a huge shift as they no longer have to rely on tournament wins to stay fruitful. Instead, they can focus on their brand. By creating content, boosting their social media presence, and building stronger fan ties, teams can now earn a stable income.

What’s inside the program?

The EWC 2025 will be a major event in gaming, bringing together the best players worldwide. It will be held over eight weeks in Boulevard City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, featuring 25 esports games, each with its own rules and prize pools.

The event will include different types of games, such as first-person shooters, battle royales, MOBAs, and sports games. Some confirmed games are:

• Valorant: Matches will run from July 8 to July 13.
• League of Legends (LoL): Matches will take place from July 16 to July 20.

Fans can watch the games live in Riyadh or stream them online on EWC’s official Twitch and YouTube channels. The EWC 2025 aims to grow esports even more by offering large cash prizes and gathering the best teams and players from various regions.

Expanding the program globally

The 2025 edition of the program is reaching more regions. This time, the EWC added teams from emerging markets, giving smaller clubs a shot at huge money. For squads in countries like India, this is a rare chance to break into the global scene and gain recognition.

The CEO of S8UL Esports in India, Animesh Agarwal, spoke about how the program is a big deal for his team. He said, ‘Being selected as an EWCF Club Partner for the Esports World Cup 2025 is not just a monumental achievement for S8UL �?it’s a defining moment for Indian esports on the global stage�? 

Bigger teams like Team Liquid, which placed second in the 2024 EWC Club Championship, are using it to expand into new esports. Co-CEO Victor 'Nazgul' Goossens said, ‘Our competitive achievements during the year allowed us to expand into new games like chess, and contributed to our goal of becoming a sustainable company in esports. The participation in the Club Program helps Team Liquid on our path to be a stable long-term and sustainable organization in esports�?

Teams get creative to earn more

The payout system rewards fan-focused content, giving teams a reason to think outside the box. For instance, G2 Esports launched a series of behind-the-scenes videos last year. The content, which featured player training sessions and fun challenges, pulled in huge views. As a result, they earned a larger payout, which is guaranteed to be in the six figures.

Massive wins even without titles

One of the biggest perks of the Partner Program is that teams no longer need to win titles to make money. In the past, only top-tier teams could earn huge amounts. Now, even mid-level and smaller teams have a shot. By building a strong online presence, they can cash in without needing to top the EWC rankings.

For instance, Guild Esports, which did not place high in last year’s EWC tournaments, still earned a solid payout. They used consistent content and regular fan interaction to bring in more views. 

More teams will join in the future

According to Jagnow, with just 40 spots for over 200 hopefuls who have sent applications, the process is tough. 160 teams will be let down so there are more people who will not like the outcome of their decision.

For the clubs that made it in, the work has only just begun. They will spend the coming months building content around the EWC 2025. The more they engage their fans, the bigger their payout will be. Many clubs are already planning new campaigns to boost their reach and pull in more viewers.

‘We provided extensive feedback to each Club on how they can improve their application, and since we allow annual reapplications, the next opportunity will come in 2026. This gives a full season to make a strong impression at EWC25 and beyond, showcasing their competitiveness, creativity, and ability to engage fans�? Jagnow added.

A new era for esports

The EWC Club Partner Program could be the blueprint for keeping esports strong. It gives struggling teams a chance to survive and thrive, no matter where they finish in the standings. For fans, this means more content, more stories, and a closer connection to their favourite teams. But for clubs, it means more payouts, more stability, and a brighter future.

Find more esports features here

Notable esports experts NAVI and Team Liquid are now playing chess. They're making big waves in the chess esports scene by signing top grandmasters. Both teams are well-known for their skills and loyal fanbases, and their chess journey shows how the game is becoming a bigger deal in the community. It’s also part of the Esports World Cup, which aims to fuse regular chess with competitive online gaming.

NAVI has signed three grandmasters: Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Wesley So, and Oleksandr Bortnyk. These players will represent the team in the Champions Chess Tour 2025. This tournament will happen online from February 16 to February 21, 2025. The players will compete for a share of a $150,000 prize pool. Their goal is to earn spots in the 2025 Esports World Cup, where only the top 12 players from the Champions Chess Tour leaderboard will qualify.

Nodirbek Abdusattorov shared his excitement about joining NAVI, saying, ‘I just want to play some interesting games.�?His words show his passion for the game and how this is a great opportunity to show his skills on a different stage.

Meanwhile, Team Liquid signed two of the best chess players in the world: Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana. Carlsen is often called the greatest chess player, with many awards, including five World Chess Championships. He has a peak rating of 2882—the highest in chess history. Fabiano Caruana is a four-time U.S. Open Chess champion and currently ranks second in the world with a rating of 2803.

The Esports World Cup

The rise of chess in esports is linked to its inclusion in the Esports World Cup (EWC). This partnership with chess.com has opened new doors for players and organisations. The EWC 2025 will feature a chess tournament with a prize pool of $1.5 million, starting from July 31 to August 3, 2025. The match will follow a fast format, giving players only 10 minutes to make their moves. 

Steve Arhancet, co-CEO of Team Liquid, said, ‘We are entering chess with the absolute best players because winning is critical to our mission.�?This shows Team Liquid's commitment to success in chess esports.

Other esports teams, like Team Vitality and Gen.G Esports, are also signing grandmasters to improve their chances in the EWC. This trend shows the growing connection between regular chess and esports. With more groups joining the chess scene, fans can expect thrilling matches and fun content.

As NAVI and Team Liquid enter chess esports, the future looks bright for the game. The community is eager to see how these grandmasters perform and what new techniques they will bring to the board.

Catch up on the newest esports highlights here