The Esports World Championship (EWC) is officially moving – the massive event is leaving Saudi Arabia for Paris for the first time. From July 6 to August 23, the best rosters in 24 gaming disciplines will compete in the French capital not only for prestige but also for a whopping $75 million. The stakes are high: this is the city’s chance to finally cement its status as Europe’s premier esports arena.
Table of Contents
What does the EWC move mean for the industry?
Organizing a LAN of this caliber is a tall order. Riyadh has been testing the format for three years (even back in the Gamers8 era). Now the French team must organize a tournament for over 200 clubs and thousands of esports athletes in an extremely tight timeframe. All this against the backdrop of a wildly overloaded competitive calendar, which is jam-packed right up until the Esports Nations Cup in November.
Although Paris is well accustomed to large-scale events. Just last month, the RLCS Major took place there, and in 2025, the city hosted the VALORANT VCT Champions. Fighting game fans are also thrilled: the first EVO 2025 was held there, and this fall, the tournament will return to France. But EWC is a whole new level of logistical hell (in the best sense of the word).
Visas, Macron, and Taxes: The Secret to Success
Coincidences don’t happen at this level. France has been building a solid infrastructure at the national level for almost ten years, leading up to this announcement. Just look at the meeting between Esports Foundation CEO Ralf Reichert and Emmanuel Macron. The president immediately brought in a task force and the Olympic Committee.
The government has invested heavily in supporting the industry. Visas for foreign players are now much easier to obtain (which has always been a constant headache for tournament operators), plus, starting in 2024, VAT on tickets has been cut to 5.5%. Esports is now considered the equal of traditional sports. It seems the lack of bureaucracy was the decisive factor in postponing the EWC.
Karmine Corp’s Audience and the Time Zone Factor
No tax breaks will work without a live crowd. And French fans are a phenomenon in their own right. Packed arenas for League of Legends, Counter-Strike, and Rocket League generate a level of noise that would make football ultras envious.
Journalist Ethan Cohen is confident that the secret lies in the organic connection between content creators and their audience. Giants like Gotaga and Kameto aren’t just streamers; they’re building their own empires—Gentlemates and Karmine Corp. These guys truly live the game. Considering Karmine Corp recently joined the club’s partner program, we definitely won’t see empty stands at the World Cup. The Saudis, despite their financial prowess, clearly lacked such genuine energy.
Speaking of spectator comfort, the move to Europe will be a huge joy for Western fans, as prime time will now be more humane. But the Eastern Hemisphere will have to keep its coffee brewing, so the organizers will have a lot of work to do over the schedule of the decisive matches.
Paris taking the crown?
It’s too early to give the French an absolute monopoly. Asia firmly holds the lead thanks to hubs like Shanghai and Seoul. Berlin, Madrid, and Cologne are consistently rocking Europe, and Riyadh, with its endless budgets, hasn’t gone anywhere.
But the EWC will give the city a major boost. Hosting a seven-week marathon of this scale is a serious test of strength. If Paris can pull off the logistics and deliver a beautiful performance with roaring crowds, it will surely join the top league of esports capitals. The foundation has already been laid. All that remains is to ensure proper execution.
