By Sagar V. Mankar Week 8 of the Esports World Cup 2024 brought the excitement to new heights with four new esports titles—PUBG: Battlegrounds, Rennsport, Tekken 8, and Rocket League—taking center stage.
The final week was a thrilling conclusion to this two-month-long event, filled with intense competition, unexpected upsets, and standout performances. Here’s a closer look at the key highlights from the final week.
1. PUBG Battlegrounds
The American side SONIQS defeated Petrichor Road, the formidable Chinese squad, by just a narrow four-point lead and became the first PUBG World Champion title at the Esports World Cup 2024.
They took home $700,000 prize money along with 1,000 Club Points for the club.
This year’s edition saw 24 elite teams from around the world gather in Riyadh, competing for a share of the $2 million prize pool—the largest in the history of PUBG esports.
The grand final, held on August 24-25, consisted of 12 rounds, with the winner determined by the total points accumulated.
2. Rennsport
The highly anticipated debut of Rennsport at the Esports World Cup did not disappoint. As one of the most realistic racing simulators to date, Rennsport attracted attention from sim racing enthusiasts and esports fans alike.
The competition was fierce, with 12 top teams and 36 drivers taking part in a series of high-speed races that tested their precision and endurance.
BMW M Team Redline dominated the Rennsport ESL R1 event, winning both the Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships.
Kevin Siggy took the Drivers’ Championship, earning $25,000, while BMW M Team Redline secured the Teams’ Championship with a $140,000 prize.
The event’s success solidified Rennsport’s place in the esports racing scene, despite the game still being in its beta phase.
3. Tekken 8
In Riyadh City, South Korea’s “Ulsan” claimed the TEKKEN 8 title at the Esports World Cup 2024, held from August 14 to August 19.
Ulsan delivered a career-best performance, sweeping “Atif” of Team Falcons 5-0 in the grand final, and secured the top prize of $300,000 and 1,000 Club Points for his team, Kwangdong Freecs.
The tournament featured 32 of the world’s best players, with fierce competition throughout its three-day duration.
4. Rocket League
The Rocket League tournament saw 16 top teams battling it out in the high-octane, car-soccer hybrid game, with a prize pool of $500,000 on the line.
The grand finals were a thrilling affair, with Team BDS facing off against Team Falcons in a best-of-seven series.
Team BDS, led by their star player M0nkey M00n, emerged victorious with a 4-2 win, taking home the $200,000 first-place prize.
Joreuz from Chiefs Esports Club was named the MVP of the tournament and earned $50,000. Despite his team’s elimination in the quarterfinals, Joreuz impressed with 10 goals, 51 shots, and 31 saves across three matches.
Team Falcons Crowned Champions
In the closing ceremony, Saudi Arabia’s hometown heroes, Team Falcons, were officially crowned as the first-ever Esports World Cup Club Champions.
The team’s exceptional campaign, which included two tournament championships and six Top 3 finishes, earned them the $7 million first prize and the prestigious EWC Club Championship trophy.
Team Falcons Chairman Mossad ‘Msdossary’ Al-Dossary accepted the awards, highlighting the team’s dedication and hard work throughout the competition.
Following the awards presentation, winning players throughout EWC were also honored in the Celebration of Champions.
Looking Ahead to 2025
Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, expressed his pride in the success of the event, stating:
“The Esports World Cup has been an incredible success in year one, driving global esports to new heights. I’m proud of accomplishing what we set out to do: bringing together the best games, clubs, and players while offering a life-changing prize pool and building the world’s largest esports festival. Congratulations to Team Falcons, who were rewarded for their competitive excellence and investment across many new games by becoming the first Esports World Cup Club Champion. I can’t wait to gather the best of the industry again for another epic Esports World Cup in 2025!”
Throughout its duration from July 3 – August 25, the Esports World Cup drew 500 million viewers who consumed over 250 million hours of content – solidifying its envious position as the most-watched esports event of 2024.
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