Esports World Cup Reportedly Owes Millions in Unpaid Winnings

The Esports World Cup 2024, hailed as the largest esports event in history, is facing serious allegations regarding unpaid prize money, salaries, and service fees for players, production staff, and on-screen talent.

According to Esports.net, multiple anonymous sources have come forward to claim that payments remain outstanding nearly six months after the event concluded.

However, readers should note that we at Strafe Esports have not yet been able to verify these sources and claims. 

Delayed Payments Across Multiple Games

The 2024 Esports World Cup, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 3 to August 25, featured 22 esports titles and was managed by the Esports World Cup Foundation, a non-profit backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

With a $60 million prize pool, the event was expected to set new standards in esports. However, reports indicate that several games are still awaiting payments.

• Among the affected games, Apex Legends had a $2 million prize pool, with multiple players and teams still awaiting their winnings.
• MLBB’s $3 million prize pool has also seen delays, with sources claiming publisher Moonton pressured teams and staff to stay silent.
• Reports from the PUBG Mobile and Tekken scenes indicate similar non-payment issues.

The missing payments include:

• Tournament prize money for teams and players
• Salaries for production staff and talent
• Payments for social media and promotional work

Amounts owed range greatly from party to party. But as it stands, the actual amount is still unknown.

While some games reportedly received partial or full payment, there is speculation that more prominent games and high-profile teams were prioritized.

Despite these issues, sources claim that the EWC Foundation, SAVVY Games Group, and ESL FACEIT Group (a PIF-backed esports organization) share responsibility for the delays. Contractors working for EFG have described a pattern of delayed payments and poor communication.

The ESL FACEIT Group was chosen as Operating Partner for the EWC (Image Source: ESL FACEIT Group)

Fears of Speaking Out

As in many esports non-payment cases, fear of industry retaliation has kept many affected individuals from speaking publicly. Several sources admitted that, despite the lack of payment, they hope to secure work for the 2025 edition of the EWC.

The EWC occupies nearly a quarter of the annual esports calendar, making it an essential event for many professionals. However, the ongoing payment issues cast doubt on Saudi Arabia’s ability to deliver on its financial promises in the esports scene.

EWC Responds to Payment Allegations

In response to Esports.net’s inquiries, the EWC Foundation provided the following statement:

“Over 99% of the payments have already been paid, including $60m of the total prize pool for over 400 participating teams in various jurisdictions and financial systems. We are working with all involved parties to finalize the remaining transactions as quickly as possible, but while the overwhelming majority of payments have been processed, minor delays can occasionally occur due to bank processing times, administrative checks, or recipient verification.”

Despite this claim, several individuals still report non-payment or unresponsive communication regarding their missing funds.

EWC, Saudi Vision 2030, and Sportswashing Concerns

The Esports World Cup is a key initiative under Saudi Vision 2030, a government strategy led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to diversify the nation’s economy beyond oil. However, critics argue that the EWC is a form of sportswashing, designed to distract from Saudi Arabia’s human rights controversies.

With the 2025 Esports World Cup already on the horizon, featuring 25 titles and millions in prize money once again, many in the esports community are left wondering: Will the next event be any different, or will history repeat itself?

Featured Image Source: Esports World Cup