The Esports World Cup Foundation announce six-figure payout for esports orgs
The Esports World Cup (EWC) Foundation has announced the introduction of a payout system called the EWC Club Program. The initiative will see 28 esports organisations from across the globe receive an annual six-figure stipend with the self-defined goal “to help the clubs we collaborate with increase their brand visibility, compete in a world-class competition, and elevate esports as a global sport,” according to EWC CEO Ralf Reichert.
The Club Program
Click to enlarge“The EWC Club Program enables clubs to build a sustainable pipeline for growth of both their existing teams and additional programs" Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup stated in a press release.
The selection of the 28 teams is separated into two groups. 22 organisations will be directly invited to receive the payout while the other six slots will be given to applicants. Organisations will be chosen based on their “established track record with long-term strategy in the esports industry”, selecting for teams with “the ability to build teams in one or more esport titles and have the ability to engage a global fanbase,” the press release outlined.
The Club Program is not directly tied to the Esports World Cup and does not guarantee that the recipients will be able to participate. According to a press release, even awardees will have to qualify through “traditional methods to earn their spot in the tournament for each game.”
What is the Esports World Cup?
The Esports World Cup Foundation, first announced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud at the New Global Sports Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is a government-founded non-profit organisation.
In October 2023, the Electronic Sports World Cup (ESWC), a brand with a history in esports reaching back to 2003, was acquired by the Esports World Cup Foundation. ESWC had been largely inactive from 2018 going forward but had previously hosted international events in various esports titles such as League of Legends, FIFA, Call of Duty, Warcraft III, and more.
So far only Mobile Legends: Bang Bang has been announced as a title, though more games are expected to be added soon with other developers such Riot Games with their title League of Legends signalling that it might be joining the EWC.
A unique feature of the EWC is the summation of all performances of an esports organisation in the Club World Champion, awarded to the team with the most success across all respective titles. While the EWC claims to boast the largest-ever prize pool, though specifics have yet to be announced.
