Apex Legends at EWC 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated moments in competitive Apex history.
This time, the electrifying action of the Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS) lands in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of the Esports World Cup 2025, with the Midseason Playoffs taking place from July 10 to 13.
For fans, this means four days of intense skirmishes, high-level rotations, and clutch third-party wipeouts from the world’s best squads. For players, it’s a shot at massive prize money, championship points, and international glory, all under the bright lights of the EWC.
Whether you're a casual fan or a stats-obsessed strategist, here's everything you need to know about the Apex Legends tournament at the Esports World Cup 2025.
Apex Legends Tournament Schedule
The Apex Legends tournament takes place during Week 1 of the EWC, running from July 10 (Thursday) to July 13 (Sunday). All matches will unfold at Arena 2, located inside Boulevard Riyadh City, a massive entertainment complex that will also host other high-profile EWC events.
Here’s a general breakdown of the schedule:
- July 10 – Pool Play Day 1
- July 11 – Pool Play Day 2
- July 12 – Last Chance Qualifiers (LCQ)
- July 13 – Finals
While specific match times vary by group and bracket, most days will feature multiple sessions of back-to-back matches. Expect each session to last around 4–6 hours, including breaks, interviews, and pre/post-match analysis.
The ALGS: 2025 Midseason Playoffs
This tournament is not a spin-off or exhibition, it’s the official Midseason Playoffs for Year 5 of the ALGS, meaning every point earned here contributes toward qualification for the ALGS Championship at the end of the season.
The event was originally planned as a standalone playoff LAN but was integrated into the EWC as part of a broader deal between EA and the organizers. For Apex players and fans, this shift means two things:
- More eyes on the competition, as the EWC broadcasts will reach audiences from multiple games and regions.
- A significant increase in prize money, with the EWC Midseason Playoffs offering $2 million USD, double the amount from most previous ALGS Majors.
The tournament is run by EA and Respawn Entertainment in conjunction with EWC authorities, and it's structured around the classic ALGS LAN format: Pool Play, LCQ, and Match Point Finals.
A Word on Controversy
While this event is a crucial stop on the ALGS circuit, there’s been debate around its location. Some players, notably “Hambino” from Team Orchard, pulled out of the event citing safety concerns over Saudi Arabia’s laws on LGBTQ+ rights.
That tension adds an undercurrent to the competition, where skipping isn’t just a missed trophy, it’s a season-altering decision.
Apex Legends Competing Teams
A total of 40 teams are flying in to compete, pulled from:
- North America (NA)
- Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA)
- Asia-Pacific South (APAC-S)
- Asia-Pacific North (APAC-N)
- South America (SA)
- Open Qualifiers
Some of the confirmed contenders include household names in the Apex competitive scene:
From North America
- TSM – A legendary name with consistent LAN performances
- NRG – Known for their methodical, high-IQ rotations
- FURIA – Aggressive and unpredictable
- Ninjas in Pyjamas (NIP) – Recently moved regions and ready to prove themselves
- AG.AL
- Team Orchid
- Team Liquid
- MOVISTAR KOI
- ROC Esports
- Virtus.Pro
- FUSION
- Twisted Minds
- Sentinels
From EMEA and APAC
- FNATIC and Enter Force.36 – Top-tier squads known for adaptation
- Natus Vincere
- Gaimin Gradiators
- GoNext Esports
- MOUZ
- Ronin Esports
- Team Nemesis
- Zero Tenacity
- NOEZ FOXX
- Crazy Raccoon
- KINOTROPE Gaming
- RRX
- SBI e-Sports
- UNLIMIT
- Gen.G Esports
- S8UL Esports
- VK Gaming
- EDward Gaming
- JD Gaming
- Rival Esports
- Wolves Esports
From ALGS Open Qualifiers
Wildcards always bring surprises. While they may lack LAN experience, these underdog teams have nothing to lose and everything to prove, often knocking giants out early.
The teams are:
- Alliance
- Team Falcons
- Al Qadsiah
- 100 Thieves
- Shopify Rebellion
Each region was awarded a number of slots based on performance during the ALGS Split 1 Pro League and Qualifiers. That means every team present in Riyadh earned their spot through regional dominance or clutch wins in cutthroat qualifiers.
Apex Legends Tournament Format
Let’s break down the format, step by step.
1. Pool Play
- 40 teams are split into two groups of 20.
- Each team plays 10 matches, with randomized lobbies to ensure variety.
- The top 10 teams from each group advance directly to Finals.
- Teams placing 11–19 move into the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ).
- Teams ranked 20th in each group are eliminated.
2. Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ)
- A total of 18 teams from Pool Play face off in 6 matches.
- Only the top 2 teams from LCQ move into the Finals.
- This round adds dramatic weight—win or go home.
3. Match Point Finals
- 20 teams (18 from Pool Play + 2 from LCQ) compete.
- Match Point rules:
- Teams must reach 60 points to become “Match Point Eligible.”
- Once eligible, they must win a match to claim the title.
- If no team wins from Match Point status, matches continue.
- First team to both reach 60 points and win a match = Champion.
This format ensures consistency is rewarded—but so is clutch performance when it counts most.
Bracket
Source: Official EWC Website
Apex Legends Tournament Prize Pool
The prize pool for the Apex Legends Midseason Playoffs at EWC 2025 is set at a staggering $2 million USD.
While the exact breakdown hasn’t been officially released, based on previous ALGS Majors, we can expect the prize structure to resemble this:
- 1st place: ~$600,000
- 2nd place: ~$320,000
- 3rd place: ~$210,000
- Remaining funds divided across top 20 finishers.
Additionally, teams earn Championship Points, which are critical for qualifying for the 2025 ALGS Championship, the final global LAN of the year. These points are weighted more heavily than online league play, giving Midseason Playoffs even more significance.
Where to Watch EWC 2025 Apex Legends Matches
Whether you're in it for the top-tier strats, hype casting, or jaw-dropping Kraber shots, you won’t want to miss a second. Matches will be streamed live on:
- Twitch: Official ALGS and Esports World Cup channels
- YouTube: Available with VODs for all matches
- Multilingual Streams: EWC is offering streams in English, Arabic, Spanish, and other major languages
Broadcasts will include full breakdowns, map rotations, player interviews, analyst desks, and behind-the-scenes footage from Riyadh. Expect top-tier talent on the mic and plenty of community watch parties worldwide.
For those attending in person, tickets for Arena 2 are still available via the official EWC website (subject to regional restrictions).
Wanna Play Like Apex Legends Pros?
If you’ve been watching Apex Legends at EWC 2025 and thinking, “How do they move so fast and hit every shot?”—the answer isn’t just practice. It’s also connection quality. And that’s where NoPing comes in.
NoPing is a performance-boosting tool that reduces your ping, eliminates lag spikes, and stabilizes your connection across Apex servers. Whether you’re diving into Ranked or trying to clutch a 1v3 in Storm Point, every millisecond counts.
With NoPing, you get:
- Lower ping to Apex servers worldwide
- Optimized routing to reduce packet loss
- FPS boost mode to squeeze out more performance
- Compatible with PC, and easy to use—no advanced setup needed
If the pros rely on lightning-fast decision-making, so should you. And the smoother your connection, the faster you can outplay.
Here’s how to use NoPing to enhance your performance in Apex Legends:
- Sign-up through the website and download NoPing (you can try it for free)
- Open NoPing and search for Apex Legends inside the software
- Once you find Apex Legends, click on it and, on the next screen, select “Choose automatic” or “Choose manual” and click “Continue”. We recommend choosing automatic, as NoPing’s technology analyzes all routes on a global scale and automatically selects the best option for you.
- On the next screen, click on “Optimize Game”.
- And that’s it, you can start playing Apex Legends with optimized ping!
You can test different servers within NoPing to see which gives you the lowest latency.
FAQ - Apex Legends at EWC 2025
Will controller players be allowed at EWC 2025?
Yes. As with all official ALGS events, EWC 2025 allows both mouse & keyboard and controller players. Apex Legends is cross-input competitive, and many top teams feature hybrid input rosters.
What maps will be played during the tournament?
The confirmed map rotation for EWC 2025 includes:
- Storm Point
- World’s Edge
Kings Canyon and Olympus are currently not in the competitive map pool. The specific rotation schedule between Storm Point and World’s Edge may vary day by day.
Are there any region lock rules?
No. Teams can include players from different regions, as long as they qualify under ALGS eligibility and regional slot rules. Cross-region rosters are common, especially in organizations with international reach.
Is there an audience in the venue?
Yes! Arena 2 at Boulevard Riyadh City is open to the public, with tickets available through the EWC official website. Spectators can watch live matches, enjoy fan zones, and attend meet-and-greets (when scheduled).
Will team comms or player POVs be streamed?
While the main broadcast focuses on observer mode and casters, some official streams and post-match content may include team comms or individual POV highlights. Additionally, some players and orgs may upload their own VODs after the event.
What platform are players using in EWC 2025?
All matches are played on PC, as per ALGS standards. Console players competing in the pro scene use PC builds with controller support.
What is the ALGS point system for the group stage?
Points are awarded as follows:
- 1st place: 12 points
- 2nd: 9 points
- 3rd: 7 points
- Then decreasing from 4th to 15th (6–1 points)
- Eliminations: 1 point per kill
These points are used to rank teams in the group stage and determine seeding for finals.
Can players stream the matches themselves?
No. Due to licensing and broadcast rights, players are not allowed to livestream their EWC matches. However, they are free to stream from bootcamps or personal content outside match times.
Will there be drops or Twitch rewards?
Yes! EA and the ALGS team have confirmed that Twitch Drops will be enabled for the EWC 2025 Apex Legends tournament. Watching the official stream for a set amount of time will earn you in-game cosmetics or Apex Packs. Make sure your EA and Twitch accounts are linked.
The fusion of Apex Legends and EWC 2025 is a bold signal. EA and Respawn are aligning with global esports organizers to elevate Apex’s competitive scene and reach wider audiences than ever before.
We’ve got top-tier orgs, new blood from Open Quals, a $2M prize pool, and four days of nothing-but-hype matches. Whether you’ve been following Apex esports since Day 1 or you’re just now diving in, this tournament promises the kind of action that defines the genre.
Set your reminders. Call your squad. And make sure your internet is stable, because from July 10 to 13, the future of Apex Legends unfolds live from Riyadh.
And to always play Apex Legends like a pro, use NoPing! Download now and start your free trial!
