Evgenii "Gufis" Kondratev Esports World Cup is strengthening its influence on the esports industry. Now, up to 40 clubs from around the world can become partners.
What does this mean for esports? On one hand, more clubs will be able to receive support, crucial funding, and players in the Esports World Cup disciplines will also get more backing. On the other hand, the increased power of the program, funded by money from Saudi Arabia, also raises concerns.
We won’t delve into the human rights issues — this has been discussed and mentioned many times already. Moreover, the situation is concerning because it strengthens the position of the strongest player in the market. There’s no antitrust regulation in esports, and universal dependence on a single source of funding has never led to positive outcomes.
Another factor that adds to the picture is that many clubs partnering with the Esports World Cup have chosen to drop their players after the tournaments in Riyadh. These decisions are understandable, but they don’t reflect well on the overall situation.
However, if clubs like The MongolZ become partners, it could be a positive development, as the flagship organization from Mongolia will be able to further grow the local esports scene. The situation is complex, and the lack of transparency does not make it any easier, but one thing is certain: for a number of clubs, the hot season for submitting applications has begun, as teams have until January 10th to apply.
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