Aug 20 - Aug 24, 2025
Counter-Strike 2 is a round-based tactical shooter in which teams take turns attacking and defending bomb-sites, all while managing a team economy from which they buy all their weapons, armor, and utility. The game features a variety of different maps and emphasizes precise aim and intelligent strategy to win. Confirmed EWC title through 2026
16
Competing Teams
$1,250,000
Prize Pool
BUY TICKETS
Participating Clubs
Teams selected from the VRS Ranking will be invited on the 2nd of June, 2025.
Tournament Format
The tournament will feature 16 of the world’s most lethal Counter-Strike squads. Fifteen invites will be determined by the June 2025 Valve Regional Standings. Meanwhile, the final slot will be awarded to the winner of the Asian Champions League.
All 16 teams will be seeded into a single-elimination bracket, with absolutely NO second chances!
This year, every match is win or go home, so these teams better lock in! This is an intense battleground where every match matters and teams are looking to unleash their max power.
Road to EWC
About
The Characters: Teams will spend the one half of the match playing terrorists and the other half playing counter-terrorists. The terrorists are tasked with planting the bomb or killing all their enemies before the time runs out. Counter-terrorists, on the other hand, have to stop the plant of the bomb, kill all the enemies, or defuse the bomb if planted to win the round.
The Plot: A big portion of the game revolves around the economy. Teams earn cash to spend on weapons, utility, and armor by performing well each round.
Managing these resources is essential to making sure you have the firepower to win any given round. In addition to weapons, players can purchase smoke grenades, flashbangs, decoy grenades, fire grenades and frag grenades. Teams work hard to not only outshoot their opponent, but to outsmart the enemy with how they use their utility.
Why: Counter-Strike 2 is among the most storied esports, and the next chapter will play out on the EWC stage. The CS2 community has been around for decades and knows all the rivalries, storylines, and arcs — so expect passion, dedication, and loyalty like no other from the crowds.
News
2025
Counter-Strike 2 makes its glorious return to the Esports World Cup
At the inaugural Esports World Cup, Natus Vincere installed their key in the trophy after defeating the best Counter-Strike teams in the world. Will they do it again, or will a new challenger rise up to seize the crown in 2025? That’s right, EWC CS2 is back and now locked in until 2027!
2025
Weekly All Access Passes to the highly anticipated Esports World Cup 2025 are now available to purchase!
The second Esports World Cup is running it back, with seven weeks of non-stop esports action.
2025
PR
Esports World Cup to Feature Record-Breaking Prize Pool of More Than $70 Million for 2025 Event
Esports World Cup Returns to Riyadh from July 7 to August 24, 2025; Tickets On Sale Now Largest Prize Pool in Esports History Further Solidifies The Esports World Cup as the Ultimate Stage for Competitive Excellence and a Platform for Sustainable Growth of the Esports Industry The New Global Sport Conference Returns to Riyadh for the Closing Weekend of The Esports World Cup on August 23-24, 2025
2025
All Esports Tournament Passes now available to purchase
This summer’s going to be legendary. Whether you're a die-hard fan of a specific title or just want to soak up the electric atmosphere of elite competition, there’s something here for everyone.
