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Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 28944, member: 2262"] The Esports World Cup Foundation just picked 40 top gaming teams for its Club Partner Program. This big push helps esports groups build lasting success in the gaming world. Each team can receive up to $1 million from the total $20 million fund. Teams will use this money to expand their brands and reach more fans through amazing content and marketing before and during the Esports World Cup 2025. The EWCF started helping esports teams financially in 2023. They created a funding plan that makes teams more stable and helps them grow. For 2025, the program wants teams to attract fans from every country and across all games. Teams will tell great stories and run creative campaigns to make this happen. These 40 partner teams already connect with over 300 million fans worldwide. They plan to expand by creating exciting experiences and content that brings fans closer to the action. This includes behind-the-scenes footage, documentaries about players, and live events for fans. The 2025 program gives teams different funding options for fan engagement, sharing EWC stories, and creating new ideas. Faisal Bin Homran, who leads product development at EWCF, called the program essential for building esports' future. He pointed out that this year's teams come from many different backgrounds - established names, rising stars, and major powerhouses that shape both esports history and its future. The investment helps teams reach more people, build stronger brands, and gain visibility through fan-focused content. The 2025 lineup truly represents global esports with six Chinese teams and new additions from fast-growing markets like Japan, India, and Latin America. Famous names like Cloud9, FaZe Clan, Team Liquid, and T1 appear alongside newer teams. The full list includes 40 organizations from around the world that collectively define modern competitive gaming. Chinese applications came through Tencent E-Sports, which helped 20 teams apply. Six were chosen: All Gamers, Bilibili Gaming, Edward Gaming, JD Gaming, Weibo Gaming, and Wolves Esports. These teams reach about 125 million Chinese fans through gaming, entertainment, and lifestyle content. NIP.eStar also made the list, further expanding the program in China. Teams faced tough competition during selection. Nearly 200 applications were carefully reviewed based on past tournament performance, potential across multiple games, social media presence, fan engagement, and plans for activating their audience. Eight teams earned direct invites based on their 2024 rankings, with the remaining spots filled through open applications. Nineteen teams joined for the first time, and twenty-one returned from last year. Team Vitality's chairman, Fabien Devide, discussed how esports is constantly changing. He noted that EWCF gives teams the resources needed to grow, engage fans, and compete at the highest level. His team found success in 2024, with points in five games and two podium finishes. The partnership continues as they aim to win more tournaments on esports' biggest stage. Sentinels CEO Rob Moore expressed excitement about joining as one of North America's fastest-growing organizations. Their VALORANT success and social media growth reaching millions of fans made this partnership timely, especially with VALORANT joining the Esports World Cup. All Gamers chairman Le Kedeng shared how his organization chased success for over 20 years, hoping to showcase Chinese esports spirit to global audiences. Membership requires annual renewal based on program requirements, reflecting how quickly esports changes. Being part of the program does not guarantee a spot in the 2025 tournament - all teams must qualify through official paths for each game. The Esports World Cup 2025 returns to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, bringing together gaming communities for a global competition with life-changing prize money across various platforms and game types. [/QUOTE]

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