Esports World Cup 2025 kicks off with opening ceremony featuring Post Malone and unprecedented global spectacle

The Esports World Cup 2025 officially kicked off with a sold-out opening ceremony at the ANB Arena at Boulevard Cityin Riyadh. The event, headlined by the world’s music icon Post Malonemarked the beginning of seven weeks of global celebration of esports and video games.. Thousands of attendees experienced the show in person, while millions followed online in what was an unforgettable night of music and entertainment on the world’s biggest esports stage.

One of the highlights was the live debut of “Til My Fingers Bleed.”the official song of the year for the EWC 2025, which surpassed the two million plays on Spotify in its first week.. This collaboration that fuses K-pop, hip-hop, and rock brings together DINO by SEVENTEEN, Duckwrth y Telle Smith of The Word Alive, and seeks to capture the ambition and excitement of the flagship esports event. Performing live together for the first time, the trio delivered an electrifying performance with a mix of intense vocals, precise choreography and magnetic staging, enhanced by LED visual effects, dramatic lighting and an otherworldly set.

Later, Post Malone took the stage solo under the lights with his hit “Circles“, in an intimate performance that captivated the entire venue. Then, Grammy-nominated producer Alesso and the renowned cellist Tina Guo transformed the stage with their powerful instrumental piece “AscensionThe game’s “Ascension,” providing an adrenaline rush just as the players began to face each other on stage.

Performing at the Esports World Cup opening ceremony was an eye-opening experience. It was very meaningful for me to connect K-pop with another creative terrain such as gaming, and to share the stage with artists as diverse as Duckwrth and Telle Smith. The energy from the crowd was incredible, and it definitely inspires me to continue exploring my artistic boundaries.

DINO

The EWC is first and foremost a global celebration of community, where gaming, creativity and culture converge on the world’s biggest stage. Our official song ‘Til My Fingers Bleed’ and this opening ceremony define the identity of the tournament. They reflect the shared passion and power of connection between music and esports.

Mike McCabe, COO of the Esports World Cup Foundation

The event was produced by an award-winning team headed up by. Ariel Horn (executive producer) and Viranda Tantula (executive creative director). The show was designed with the background narrative of the EWC: the effort, the fans, the competitors and the climb to the top. The staging, by Possible Productionsincluded a 40-meter central mountain, stepped ramps and a suspended LED ceiling that provided impressive scale and depth. Each performance integrated dynamic visual effects, lighting and choreography, with transitions and augmented reality that delivered a seamless spectator experience and cemented the EWC as the new global benchmark for esports entertainment.

We all dream of telling stories on the biggest stages, and this one certainly was. But the most important thing was to tell emotional stories that connect with the fans from around the world who spend their time in this diverse gaming universe gathered at EWC 2025.

Ariel Horn

The ceremony also hosted a variety of music, sports and streaming celebrities, including streamer Tyler1former NFL player Osi Umenyiorathe chess Grandmaster Magnus Carlsenthe actor Karry Wang and professional player Arslan Ash. These appearances reflect the EWC’s growing status as a global meeting place for the biggest names in entertainment, sports and gaming.

With the opening ceremony already held, all eyes now turn to the event’s central competition: the world’s best players will battle it out each day on multiple stages in Riyadh, competing for the biggest prize in esports: the Esports World Cup Club Championship..

🎟️ Tickets and access to all tournament days and festival experiences available at: esportsworldcup.com