T1, the South Korean powerhouse, clinched victory with a 3-1 score against China’s TES, adding the inaugural EWC title to their already impressive roster of achievements, which includes multiple World Championship and LCK titles. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, July 9 (Korea Bizwire) – The inaugural Esports World Cup (EWC) in Saudi Arabia has emerged as a successful international gaming event, particularly in the League of Legends (LoL) category, despite facing numerous controversies over its execution.
According to esports statistics website Escharts, the LoL final between T1 and Top Esports (TES) on July 8 drew a peak concurrent viewership of approximately 1.11 million globally, excluding Chinese platforms.
While this figure falls short of the 6.4 million viewers for the 2023 LoL World Championship final and the 2.83 million for the 2024 Mid-Season Invitational match between T1 and BLG, experts consider it a strong debut for an event not organized by Riot Games, the game’s publisher.
T1, the South Korean powerhouse, clinched victory with a 3-1 score against China’s TES, adding the inaugural EWC title to their already impressive roster of achievements, which includes multiple World Championship and LCK titles.
The tournament garnered praise for its unique medal ceremony, where the losing team personally handed over triangle-shaped medals bearing their team name to the victors, who then dramatically crushed them using a hydraulic press.
However, the event was not without its share of criticisms. Technical issues frequently interrupted gameplay, forcing players and spectators to endure lengthy, unexplained pauses between and even during sets.
T1, the South Korean powerhouse, clinched victory with a 3-1 score against China’s TES, adding the inaugural EWC title to their already impressive roster of achievements, which includes multiple World Championship and LCK titles. (Yonhap)
The organizers’ decision to conduct an interview with the losing team’s coach before the start of the second set in the finals also drew criticism from fans, who worried about potential strategy leaks and disruption to the game’s flow.
Despite these controversies, the EWC, featuring 22 different game titles, is set to continue until August 26. With a total prize pool exceeding $60 million, it represents one of the most ambitious esports events to date.
South Korean teams are slated to compete in various other disciplines throughout the tournament, including Teamfight Tactics, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), PUBG Mobile, StarCraft II, Overwatch 2, and Tekken 8.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
