Esports World Cup format unveiled

The Riyadh competition will feature a mostly single-elimination format with a peculiar second-chance mechanic.

Spirit are the only team confirmed to play at EWC in July so far

The organizers of the Esports World Cup have announced the format for the summer festival's Counter-Strike 2 competition, which is set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in July.

The tournament will begin with a 14-team best-of-three opening round, from which the winners will move on to the quarter-finals and the losers enter a "resurrection" last-chance stage.

A regional hero qualifier winner will join the seven losing sides in the last-chance stage, and they'll play a single-elimination best-of-one bracket to decide the last quarter-final team.

Spirit are currently the only team to be invited to participate in the Esports World Cup as the winners of IEM Katowice. The winning side of PGL Major Copenhagen will also be invited as well as seven teams coming from the ESL Ranking and six from qualifiers in Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Oceania, and a regional qualifier.

Read more
Esports World Cup CS qualifiers announced

The organizers are yet to reveal the prizepool of the Esports World Cup and the full dates.

The Esports World Cup is a successor to the Saudi Arabian festival previously known as Gamers8, which featured a Counter-Strike tournament with a $1 million prizepool in August last year, won by Vitality.

It is part of Saudi Vision 2030, a Saudi Arabian government program that aims to diversify the kingdom’s economy. Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in the esports industry — as evidenced by the acquisition of ESL Gaming and FACEIT by Saudi Arabian government-backed Savvy Gaming Group — has raised concerns because of the country’s record of human rights violations.

#3
 | 
Latvia riraie
ok
2024-03-24 13:07
0
1 reply
#78
 | 
Germany Sol1taire
Amazing initiative by KSA! LOVE this format and can't wait for this tournament. Will try to attend as well
2024-03-24 15:59
0
#4
s1mple | 
Ukraine Sejfu
Gamers8 was already a success, can't wait for this one. Good luck to all participants, I will try to come and watch.
2024-03-24 13:07
0
5 replies
#9
 | 
Russia Evil_DaviD1
I hope they increase prize pool for this one. Dota had like 15KK tournament last year and reportedly the next Riyadh Masters will have 50KK.
2024-03-24 13:10
0
1 reply
#27
Jame | 
Russia Pneuma
Ig they won't set a prize pool higher than that for Majors. So $1m straight as it was last year is the most probable scenario.
2024-03-24 13:42
0
#30
 | 
Russia Donkimuz
I agree g8 was a lot of fun to watch
2024-03-24 13:45
0
1 reply
#42
Faceit level 6  | 
 | 
Spain Marshall_D_AdreN
+1
2024-03-24 14:14
0
#79
 | 
Germany Sol1taire
+1 Amazing initiative by KSA! LOVE this format and can't wait for this tournament. Will try to attend as well
2024-03-24 16:00
0
hmmm
2024-03-24 13:07
0
#7
 | 
France GenG_Fan
Gamers8 but with a different name
2024-03-24 13:08
0
1 reply
#32
 | 
Russia Donkimuz
Stop complaining.
2024-03-24 13:45
0
Interesting...
2024-03-24 13:11
0
#11
 | 
Czech Republic PaYaB
Good thing that Striker mentioned the record of human rights violations. Everyone should know about it.
2024-03-24 13:13
0
35 replies
we literally have a major in china in a few months it's probably time to accept that in Esports, absolutely nobody gives a fuck about these things.
2024-03-24 13:20
0
18 replies
IEM Dallas is happening too
2024-03-24 13:28
0
10 replies
+1
2024-03-24 13:36
0
+1 no one gives a f on which ever sides violated anything. It's just a sport.
2024-03-24 13:40
0
exactly
2024-03-24 13:43
0
#29
 | 
Finland tailal
+1
2024-03-24 13:44
0
#34
 | 
Belarus Azy_421
+1
2024-03-24 13:48
0
#43
Faceit level 6  | 
 | 
Spain Marshall_D_AdreN
+1
2024-03-24 14:14
0
+1
2024-03-24 14:22
0
is IEM Dallas being funded by the US Government?
2024-03-24 14:42
0
2 replies
they paid for the stadium
2024-03-24 14:49
0
1 reply
Funding the actual tournament and teams who participate in the tournament vs funding infrastructure on which the tournament depends are not the same, though obviously it doesn’t mean that there’s no concerns in either case
2024-03-24 20:03
0
#87
 | 
Algeria raizo_
i don't think you have the right to talk about human rights violations when ur from the USA bud
2024-03-24 16:51
0
6 replies
reading comprehension of a 12 year old.
2024-03-24 16:53
0
5 replies
#89
 | 
Algeria raizo_
You not mentioning the USA and going for china first is the issue there bud
2024-03-24 16:55
0
4 replies
because the next valve sponsored event is in china dummy, please use your brain.
2024-03-24 17:05
0
3 replies
#95
 | 
Algeria raizo_
IEM Dalas is on the horizon how come you didnt mention that
2024-03-24 19:32
0
2 replies
probably becuz its not sponsored by valve
2024-03-24 19:33
0
Maybe cuz it isn't a Valve sanctioned event, did you read?
2024-03-25 05:59
0
Do you think HLTV or Valve care about it? Look at the amount of Russians here at HLTV and Russian players at the major. At the next olympics Russian athletes wont be able to attend the opening ceremony and the Russian flag and national anthem are banned… Valve only cares about money and HLTV only care about farming delusional bettors for their gambling partners.
2024-03-24 14:06
0
11 replies
#44
Faceit level 6  | 
 | 
Spain Marshall_D_AdreN
if u ban russia then u have to ban israel, palestine, ukraine and usa
2024-03-24 14:15
0
9 replies
I think the Ukraine situation is different… But for me you can ban all the others, it’s fair, get them blocked
2024-03-24 14:21
0
8 replies
#51
Faceit level 6  | 
 | 
Spain Marshall_D_AdreN
never mix politics with sports. Its like saying lets ban all portugal players because u invaded south america 500 years ago
2024-03-24 14:24
0
7 replies
that sounds good to me, ban them
2024-03-24 14:42
0
Lifes are way more important than sports. The only way to get to this kind of stupid leaders is unfortunately by making life worst for the citizens of their countries.
2024-03-24 14:55
0
2 replies
#81
Faceit level 6  | 
 | 
Spain Marshall_D_AdreN
ok so liechtenstein vs iceland next world cup final 🔥🔥🔥
2024-03-24 16:09
0
#126
Faceit plus user Faceit level 10 Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
donk | 
Poland Hellp3r
Leftist brain XD
2024-04-18 11:48
0
The South Americans could be banned as well for being the descendants of those invaders.
2024-03-25 06:21
0
2 replies
flag checks
2024-03-25 14:14
0
1 reply
What about my flag?
2024-03-25 14:18
0
You mix 2 things : Players and country Olympic games can be criticized (and they should be), but they tried to differentiate these 2. They allow athlete to participate but not in the name of their country. Apart some bigot people here, no one want russian/israeli/[put the country you want here] players to be banned. And for people that felt offended to no be able to represent a country that kill civilians, you are part of the problem. For ex, when my governement invade libya some years ago, if some sport/esport organization decided to ban my flag, I would have applauded this decision.
2024-03-25 15:02
0
Striker doesn't understand conflict of interests and its impact on CS teams but he feels the need to bring up human right violations out of no where. Keep that energy for Israeli players and US Air Force sponsored events.
2024-03-24 14:54
0
1 reply
Elaborate please.
2024-03-25 14:07
0
#80
 | 
Germany Sol1taire
what about record of human rights violations in my country USA? we literally kill people for having black skin We also systematically exclude people from wealth systems due to their skin color. We are also financing genocide. We deserve to be sanctioned.
2024-03-24 16:01
0
#105
Faceit level 10  | 
 | 
Finland Hekee
Everyone knows avout it but money is all in this world
2024-03-25 06:05
0
what the hell
2024-03-24 13:19
0
Yay asian team
2024-03-24 13:28
0
#19
 | 
England MikeLCHV
Im so excited to watch this event and find out which team is the best in the world playing in the best city in the world! #ad #VisitSaudi #Ronaldo #AlNassr #Messi #Neymar #EsportsWorldCup
2024-03-24 13:29
0
#20
 | 
Indonesia F0RGED
Another tournament yippieee
2024-03-24 13:30
0
cool format tbh
2024-03-24 13:36
0
#24
 | 
Yugoslavia lapace
blood money tournament
2024-03-24 13:39
0
6 replies
all money nowadays is pretty much dirty… the cover ups in the west are protected by the media owned by the same companies.
2024-03-24 13:45
0
you talk too much boycott ESL and FACEIT. mostly ESL that org doing too much tour for CS. boycott CS2 instead by letting ESL running thier tour.
2024-03-24 13:48
0
#58
 | 
Poland NaKii
Why arent you then complaining about IEM Chengdu? or IEM Dallas? Or Major Shanghai? or YaLLa tournaments? Or Skyesports slam?
2024-03-24 14:43
0
2 replies
because euros can't stand arabs, its an open secret.
2024-03-24 15:25
0
1 reply
#76
 | 
Poland NaKii
Yeah... i MAY hardly dislike your culture but atleast im objective lol
2024-03-24 15:49
0
#86
 | 
Algeria raizo_
lets boycot all cs tournaments , starting with the ones held in USA/UK or sponsored by them .
2024-03-24 16:51
0
bo1 lower bracket? why tos still use bo1 everyone hates that shit
2024-03-24 13:41
0
2 replies
saves time
2024-03-24 13:59
0
#45
Faceit level 6  | 
 | 
Spain Marshall_D_AdreN
lower bracket shouldnt even exist, its a good format tbh
2024-03-24 14:16
0
wonder what prize money will be? same as gamers8 or more?
2024-03-24 14:01
0
And again the format is kinda garbage - but whatever, I don’t even know if I’ll watch it.
2024-03-24 14:02
0
2 replies
#47
Faceit level 6  | 
 | 
Spain Marshall_D_AdreN
the format is good what do you mean, who wants to watch lower brackets and ttriple elimination brackets specially in playoffs lmao
2024-03-24 14:16
0
1 reply
Lvl 4 opinion
2024-03-24 14:51
0
wow gulag in pro cs tournament
2024-03-24 14:13
0
#50
bLitz | 
India p1tr
Riyadh in Summer. GLHF.
2024-03-24 14:23
0
1 reply
hahahh
2024-03-24 15:25
0
#53
 | 
Israel RoyBenji
Will we field a team?
2024-03-24 14:36
0
Interesting format and the location will upset the worst people possible, very cool.
2024-03-24 14:43
0
The Jamal Khashoggi World Cup
2024-03-24 14:43
0
9 replies
#85
 | 
Algeria raizo_
Says the country responisble for shit ton of assassinations , same country who put Julian Assange behind bars , the irony
2024-03-24 16:50
0
8 replies
Trying someone in a court of law vs extra-judicial butchering of a journalist lol nice cope
2024-03-24 20:05
0
7 replies
#100
 | 
Algeria raizo_
Not big diff if that court of law is literally designed to find you guilty because some people told you to do so
2024-03-24 21:15
0
6 replies
if you think that British courts are like that, then you have no idea what you're talking about. the supreme court has spent the last 6 years prosecuting the government for breaking the law
2024-03-25 00:10
0
5 replies
#127
Faceit plus user Faceit level 10 Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
donk | 
Poland Hellp3r
Brainwashed John watching too much of a bbc.
2024-04-18 11:52
0
4 replies
Polish flag starts talking about the rule of law after PiS spent 9 years undermining the judiciary
2024-04-18 15:32
0
3 replies
#131
Faceit plus user Faceit level 10 Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
donk | 
Poland Hellp3r
Why would you speak about something you got no clue about? Bbc is a brainwashing media, thats a fact. And your court is a joke, nothing wrong with facing a fact.
2024-04-18 17:11
0
2 replies
Andrzej Duda's alt spotted
2024-04-18 19:40
0
1 reply
#133
Faceit plus user Faceit level 10 Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
donk | 
Poland Hellp3r
I bet you're walking with a hand in your underwear like most of young English lads, huh?
2024-04-18 21:41
0
#62
 | 
China halflife2
Will any Chinese team participate? Steel helmet?
2024-03-24 14:51
0
Not gonna watch all of that
2024-03-24 14:55
0
#67
 | 
Germany Jonaah
sounds weird
2024-03-24 15:01
0
#68
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Poland YOGURTOVSKY
made by an actual idiot
2024-03-24 15:08
0
"spirit are invited" Then this isnt a world cup, this is just propaganda.
2024-03-24 15:17
0
5 replies
lmao what
2024-03-25 06:10
0
4 replies
An actual world cup would have countries, not clubs, the world cup is about nations. If anything this is more like a Champions League.
2024-03-25 06:21
0
3 replies
An actual world cup just wouldn't/doesn't work in CS
2024-03-25 06:24
0
2 replies
it would
2024-03-25 06:24
0
1 reply
WESG had $1m and yet nobody cared about it and 0 relevant players played it lmao It wouldn't
2024-03-25 06:35
0
#74
 | 
United States ddown
Love sportswashing
2024-03-24 15:36
0
#75
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Finland Rudilele
Real CS World Cup would be cool, but this is not it.
2024-03-24 15:37
0
1 reply
#84
Faceit level 10 Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Spain Silber_
Like WESG, only national teams
2024-03-24 16:44
0
Didnt read but is this the new gamers8?
2024-03-24 16:13
0
1 reply
yep
2024-03-25 01:18
0
For a minute I thought this was written by Spunj.
2024-03-24 16:25
0
I don't think it would be too hard to do something with national teams considering that no one will see this shit
2024-03-24 17:07
0
Opening bo3 and resurrection bo1 is actually pretty good.
2024-03-24 18:19
0
#93
 | 
England BobDude65
Pretty bad format tbh, some nice ideas but doesn’t look great all together. I’m just happy to watch something new tho tbh.
2024-03-24 18:26
0
Pog
2024-03-24 19:19
0
#99
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
kennyS | 
New Zealand aotearoa
"It is part of Saudi Vision 2030, a Saudi Arabian government program that aims to diversify the kingdom’s economy." Note to the writer, It's called Sportwashing
2024-03-24 21:00
0
3 replies
People acting as if there aren't already Saudis hosting tournaments in US and China that are sponsored by the US Air force lol
2024-03-25 06:14
0
2 replies
#128
Faceit plus user Faceit level 10 Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
donk | 
Poland Hellp3r
Brainwashed
2024-04-18 11:53
0
1 reply
Elaborate
2024-04-18 12:32
0
#115
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
kennyS | 
New Zealand aotearoa
If money is the only thing you value in life then go to play these tournaments. eSports was already big in the us before the air force started to give money, it's a recruitment tool, not sportwashing like Saudi does in every sports, football , F1 spending billions so people forgot about their dictatorship, slavery and murders. If North Korea would host a million dollars tournament, would you go ?
2024-03-25 07:45
0
If it's called world cup it should be national teams
2024-03-25 08:22
0
1 reply
#118
BzOo | 
France JBzOo
Totally agree
2024-03-25 13:28
0
Strange format but ok
2024-03-25 12:13
0
Feels like a super-condensed version of the Blast Premier season, will be interesting to see how it plays out
2024-03-25 18:28
0
#124
 | 
Poland Pechowy
Every format feels better than this Swizz buchhloz shit
2024-04-01 22:48
0
#125
 | 
China RADNIKEY
That's one difficult last chance stage
2024-04-17 03:51
0
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