Esports World Cup 2026 opens in Paris with $75M prize

The Esports World Cup 2026 has commenced in Paris, marking the event's first edition outside of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and launching seven weeks of competition across 24 gaming titles with a record total prize pool of $75 million. The Valorant tournament, featuring a $2 million prize pool, began its group stage on July 2, with defending champion Team Heretics entering as the top seed among 16 teams.

The relocation to France has introduced a new regulatory environment, particularly for cryptocurrency sponsorships. Under a new French framework, licensed crypto and blockchain companies are now permitted to sponsor teams and appear on jerseys, though onsite activations and direct token integrations during competitions are prohibited. This policy creates a unique situation for Team Heretics, which operates its own fan token for engagement, though that product cannot be used directly at the event.

The broader festival officially opens with a ceremony on July 8 at La Seine Musicale, featuring performances by French artists DJ Snake, Aya Nakamura, and Theodora. The opening event will also include a creator Valorant showmatch between prominent French online personalities Inoxtag and...