Funding Opportunities Awaiting Teams at T1
As previously mentioned, during the period between 2024, the first-ever Esports World Cup will take place, alongside events related to Esports in general and League of Legends specifically. This highly anticipated event will be hosted by organizations and Esports federations in Saudi Arabia, aiming to elevate the industry to new heights. T1 has emerged as one of the teams that secured multiple championships across various games at the EWC 2024, along with a substantial prize pool amounting to approximately $700,000 (excluding associated expenses). However, the competition is not solely about monetary rewards.
According to a recent announcement, the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has decided to open additional partnership programs for 40 top Esports teams across various disciplines. Among these, teams that have won championships at EWC 2024 will be awarded a specific grant and must submit a detailed application for review.
Most importantly, the budget for the program is set to reach $20 million. Thus, on average, each team could potentially receive an initial investment of around $500,000. Of course, the figures will be allocated according to EWCF guidelines. Notably, the focus is on Southeast Asia, meaning VCS teams may benefit significantly.
In other words, if T1 wins major titles in the upcoming competitions (LCK, MSI, CKTG), the team could earn at least $1 million by 2025. This is an impressive figure in the context of the current Esports scene, especially considering the challenges faced by teams in general and League of Legends in particular, which have been experiencing a “disappointing downturn” lately.
T1 Benefits While Other Teams May Struggle
T1’s situation has led fans of Gen.G to feel “anxious.” This is largely due to Gen.G being rated as a very strong team for the year 2024. This includes their participation in the LCK Spring 2024 and MSI thereafter. Additionally, there are crucial events lined up for all teams, including EWC 2024 and LCK Summer 2024.
Nevertheless, Gen.G still has the opportunity to sign up and secure a grant from EWCF. However, it is clear that if they do not perform better at EWC 2024, Gen.G will face significant challenges moving forward.
