Team Liquid eyes EWC glory amid tournament controversy
The second Esports World Cup (EWC) has started in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It features a record-breaking $70 million prize pool across 25 titles. Although players don’t play for their countries, global teams like Team Liquid are getting a lot of attention.
Team Liquid is based in the Netherlands and trains full-time players. They work with game, fitness, and mindset coaches. Their team base has streaming rooms, practice areas, and even a chef on site to help players stay sharp and focused.
EA FC player Levi de Weerd says the team’s strong support helps build teamwork and leads to good results. Apex Legends player YanYa also says the EWC is the best time he’s had in esports. Team Liquid is going for first place after finishing second last year. There’s $7 million waiting for the top team.
However, the event’s Saudi support has caused some backlash because of the country’s record on human rights. Co-CEO Victor Goossens said it’s a hard situation. Still, he believes playing in the EWC is important for the team’s future. He said they need to stay active now if they want to still be around in five or ten years.
