stc group Extends EWC Partnership As Tournament Expands To Paris
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 (Bernama) -- Digital enabler, stc group, has concluded its third consecutive year as a Founding and Elite Partner of the Esports World Cup (EWC), supporting the tournament as it held its first edition outside Saudi Arabia in Paris.
According to a statement, the 2026 EWC was the largest edition to date, bringing together more than 2,000 professional players and 200 clubs from over 100 countries across 25 tournaments and 24 game titles, with a prize pool exceeding US$75 million. (US$1=RM4.03)
The move to Paris marked a new chapter for the tournament, which launched in Riyadh in 2024, while stc's continued partnership reflects its broader support for the gaming ecosystem, including professional competition, amateur players, broadcasting and digital infrastructure.
Throughout EWC 2026, stc maintained a presence across the competition, with the stc Arena hosting tournaments for VALORANT, League of Legends, Counter-Strike 2, Rocket League, EA FC 26, Overwatch 2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. The company also operated the stc Player's Lounge and stc Contenders.
The partnership extended beyond professional competition through the Warriors Cup, which brought together more than 10,000 amateur players in over 200 tournaments across 16 games, providing emerging talent a pathway to participate in organised competition.
stc also expanded the tournament's reach beyond the venues through a dedicated EWC channel on stc tv. Launched on July 5, the channel delivered 10 to 12 hours of daily coverage, including live matches, highlights and analysis, and recorded more than three million plays as of Aug 23.
The partnership has grown alongside EWC since its inaugural edition in Riyadh. In 2024, the tournament attracted over 500 million viewers globally, while stc supported connectivity for more than 10,000 players with 99.9 per cent network availability. In 2025, EWC welcomed over 2,000 professional players and three million on-site visitors, while stc increased its network coverage by over 20 per cent.
stc’s contribution to gaming has also been recognised by Saudi Arabia’s Communications, Space and Technology Commission, which has named the group a Platinum Gaming Operator for 10 consecutive cycles.
Three years into the partnership, stc said it continues to support the growth of EWC through connectivity, broadcasting and competition, contributing to the expansion of esports and how players and audiences participate in the sector.
-- BERNAMA