The organizers of the Esports World Cup festival have announced partnerships with 30 clubs. All participants in the program will receive financial assistance to establish rosters for less popular disciplines than Dota 2, CS, LoL, and so on. The information was revealed in X.
Participants in the program will be able to receive six-figure sums as part of the funding for participation in top-tier tournaments. The partnership has already allowed some clubs to return to disciplines in which they have a rich history, as well as to explore new titles in demand.
Membership in the EWC support program does not guarantee entry to the Esports World Cup. However, all partners will be entitled to annual financial rewards based on their ability to attract viewers and fans to the series' tournaments. Virtus.pro and NAVI from Eastern Europe have joined the initiative. The full list is presented below.
In total, the EWC fund received over 150 applications for membership, from which 8 representatives were selected. They were evaluated based on three main criteria: the club's esports history, its competitive strategy and goals, and its creative approach to content and fan engagement.
On April 30, the organizers of the Esports World Cup published the full event schedule. The total prize pool of the tournament will exceed $60 million, including $20 million for the club competition. The Riyadh Masters 2024 for Dota 2 will begin on July 3 and last for three weeks. Qualifiers for the tournament will take place from May 29 to June 4 online.