The Esports World Cup has unveiled a free-to-play fantasy league with a $100,000 prize pool for select games, but controversy over esportswashing and human rights in Saudi Arabia continues to shadow the event.
The Esports World Cup is expanding fan engagement in 2025 with the launch of a new free-to-play fantasy competition, allowing viewers to test their predictive skills across five major tournaments. The fantasy feature, developed in partnership with sports data giant Genius Sports, includes a substantial $100,000 (~£72,943) prize pool and is open to all fans globally.
Focusing on five of the most popular titles in competitive gaming, VALORANT, Dota 2, League of Legends, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and Counter-Strike 2, the fantasy league lets players create virtual teams composed of real esports pros and compete on leaderboards based on the performance of their picks. Each tournament’s fantasy window will close shortly before the respective event begins throughout July and August, and fans must submit their final rosters before the deadlines to remain eligible for prizes.
Participants with top scores on the leaderboards will earn a share of the $100,000 prize pool, offering not just bragging rights but a tangible reward for esports knowledge. Alongside the fantasy competition, the Esports World Cup will also run Pick ‘Em challenges across all 24 tournament titles featured at the event, allowing fans to predict match outcomes and tournament winners.
To power this interactive gaming layer, the Esports World Cup Foundation partnered with Genius Sports, a tech company known for supplying real-time data and analytics to sportsbooks. Genius has previously worked with esports-focused firms like GRID and Bayes Esports, helping integrate live match data into fan engagement platforms.
The Esports World Cup joins a growing list of events adding fantasy elements to broaden viewer participation. Similar fantasy games have been featured at 2025 events hosted by BLAST and even non-endemic organizations like the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), signaling the increasing crossover between esports and mainstream sports entertainment.
However, despite the growing excitement and investment behind the event, it has not been without controversy. The Esports World Cup Foundation is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), raising long-standing concerns around esportswashing; the use of high-profile events to improve the country’s global image amid criticisms of its human rights record.
While the introduction of fantasy games and Pick ‘Em challenges enhances fan interaction and positions the Esports World Cup as a more immersive spectacle, critics argue that these efforts are also a strategic distraction from larger ethical issues. Saudi Arabia’s human rights history continues to draw scrutiny, especially as the country invests heavily in traditional sports and esports alike.
Nonetheless, the fantasy platform is live and accessible now, with predictions open for the upcoming titles. As the Esports World Cup unfolds in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July through August, it remains to be seen whether the fantasy competitions will help the event win over fans or simply add another layer to an already polarizing tournament.
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