India, July 10 -- The Esports World Cup 2026 has officially begun, marking a historic chapter in competitive gaming. Running from July 6 to August 23, the tournament has moved outside Riyadh for the first time, with Paris, France, hosting the seven-week spectacle. More than 2,000 professional players from 200 esports clubs representing over 100 countries are competing across 25 tournaments in 24 game titles for a record-breaking US$75 million prize pool.

A Grand Opening Ceremony Lights Up Paris

The tournament kicked off with a spectacular Opening Ceremony at La Seine Musicale, combining esports, music and French culture in a really impressive way.

The production used cinematic storytelling, augmented reality, orchestra performances, dr...