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Valorant to join Esports World Cup with three-year partnership

jenopelle

22 hours ago

Riot and the Esports World Cup have announced a three-year global commercial partnership that will see Valorant, League of Legends, and Teamfight Tactics played at the annual event through 2027.

VCT icons Boaster, benjyfishy, Asuna, and Zellsis featured in EWC's branding. VCT stars Boaster , benjyfishy , Asuna , and Zellsis featured in EWC's branding.

An official press release detailed that beginning with Masters Bangkok, "the collaboration will feature EWC in-broadcast activations at LoL Esports, VCT, and TFT global LAN events."

EWC's Chief Games Officer Fabian Scheuermann added: "By bringing these titles to the Esports World Cup, we are not just celebrating elite gameplay - we are, together, expanding esports as a global entertainment movement, creating deeper connections with fans across gaming, music, and digital culture."

EWC is an annual event held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the inaugural rendition of the games taking place last year. The competition in 2024 held 23 events in 22 esports. The addition of Valorant expands that count to 23 esports.

The event, set to be held in Riyadh again, is tentatively scheduled for July to August, with specific dates yet to be revealed. This may interfere with the schedule of VCT competitions, as group stage matches in Stage 2 begin July 12, with the playoffs lasting until August 29. Meanwhile, Champions 2025 is slated to start September 12, just a few weeks after Valorant's EWC tournament.

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#1

XtraChrxs

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w writer

#8

gamergirl

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why did they put 2 mids with benjy and zellsis on the poster tho

#13

teilwal

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bro its all mids

#14

gamergirl

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2x grandfinalist, top 5 sentinel of 2024 Benjy
Madrid winner Zellsis
2x event winner boaster
asuna

#18

teilwal

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whole lotta mid

#31

unknown_trash

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FR, where is my goat tenz??? tenz should be everywhere! also i suspect they put benjy there to hype up the fortnite nerd fans because they would probably recognise him.

#39

Trifftnix

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bro is living in the past

#48

unknown_trash

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no one knows how to take a joke on vlr anymore smh. you newgen speds don't know the definition of humour.

#108

Desto2014

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Dw bro I knew you were being sarcastic, unfortunately the valorant community is filled with the same 10 year olds who go “???” In twitch chat when a save happens.

#44

Quioca1

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exactly, all mids, all of them are the worsts in their team, where is Aspas, Zekken, Leaf, Jawgemo, Oxy etc

#70

albertsmh

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oxy 🤣🤣🤣blud has never been to an international event 😭😭

#69

koromast

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first strike NA winner bro? respect him?

#88

JustHunter

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that asuna caught me the hell of guard lmao

#90

nobody___100

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blud switched up real quick for upvotes

#92

gamergirl

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nah asuna and botster still ass rn

#21

XtraChrxs

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i try to be supportive for one time and get downvoted this is why i cant have nice things

#51

jpegf1le

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clout 💀

#100

YTM4rble12

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boaster has 2 trophys and is thought to be the best igl ever, if anyone zellsis is the mid player

#129

gamergirl

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right now? benjy and zellsis are the only two relevant players rn

#106

Breloof

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When marketing features players by brand value instead of video game skill 🤯

#120

unofficialwaifu

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boaster: lock-in champion and master tokyo champion
zellsis: masters madrid champion
benjyfishy: masters shanghai and champions 2024 runner up
0sun0: first strike champion

#2

Ullyr

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Only exciting if EDG plays

#19

Hyxagon

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ngl i could see edg being so confident in their chances to make champs(if they don’t already have enough points by then) that they just have their academy team play in stage 2 while the main roster does ewc

#49

tipthetim

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I don’t think they are allowed to do that.

#58

Hyxagon

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i mean furia had a full sub roster for their first match.

#89

JustHunter

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yea but this isnt an emergency

#109

goatman123

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they are, there are no roster locks and as long as they are paying above minimum/fulfilling the contract requirements

#130

tipthetim

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I mean they could if they sign all of the academy team to the main rosters, but that's a lot of money because of the minimum salary.
Besides the EWC would not schedule an event that collides with the VCT schedule.

#3

nuthoneycheerios

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WWWWWWWWW

#9

Laundry

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L

#4

cameran

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sen is winning it all

#5

shesh_

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only time will tell how this partnership plays out

#6

drkickbut4

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-_-

#7

Blursilly

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L of the century

#10

EpicGamerGamingEpicly

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L

#11

AxellS

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really curious what the riot defenders have to say now

#12

nobody___100

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L rit0
out of all the pros for branding they choose b00ster zellshits and assuna

#91

nobody___100

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why downvotes
kangkang aspas derke are right there and you picked some washed bums?

#15

grisx23

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So how would that work? Kind of like olympics? (no i didnt read besides the title)

#17

rainstorm2

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no in league it was just the top 2 team of every major regions played in a single elim tournament. and it will probably be the same for valo or something similar

#16

DrWolfisAlpha

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L, EWC never even had good viewership and sportswashing is a HUGE L

#20

not5kin

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massive L

#22

chocobreezy

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they will get make a wish kids to cast this 🔥🔥🔥🔥

#23

Liwus

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W we need more tournaments. Players cant go from july tk february without playing like some did last year.

#26

rainstorm2

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this isnt for the bottom feeders team this will only feature the top team. the shit team will still have long breaks.

#30

Liwus

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But this increases their chances to qualify or come up with new stuff and train while others are playing and travelling. Prep time plays a huge whole in valorant, specially with maps rotating so often.

#46

arin2016

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Something something boycott blah blah blah I'm such a good person

#24

Shadow_Monarch

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Why only white faces representing EWC Valorant? Where is Aspas or other Latino professionals and Asian professionals from APAC and China?
Is EWC Valorant only Europe and North America? Wtf

#40

TM06Nick

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Because saudi wants to appeal to dumb white americas. Its all about presentation to find your dumbass audience

#25

invert

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first international with zero hosts, analysts, or casters AMAZING🤯‼️‼️

#27

hehe444

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why zero hosts, analysts, or casters?

#29

invert

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some of them have spoken against the ewc and sportswashing in general, especially sideshow. it'll be hard for production to get a decent group together because most of the talent that everyone knows just won't be attending

#33

Liwus

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Thats nice, gives the spotlight to up and comers who will surely appreciate the opportunity

#35

hehe444

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but why it is bad when Saudi doing and why it is good when America does

#41

column1

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Can’t tell if bait, but if you’re legitimately curious it’s because EWC is directly related to the Saudi government and US events are just in the US but are ran by companies that are not affiliated with the US government.

#53

flrish

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as someone else said this is basically directly from the state instead from a private company - and thus the sportswashing in Saudi compared to something like the US or another Western countries is directly meant to draw attention away from Saudi poor human rights records

#61

livefrmhollywood

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Saudis are trying to invest their oil money before it runs out. Buying all of sports is a good option because everyone likes sports. But it doesn't make the Saudis okay.

#101

Salman_

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You all live in a bubble. Don't judge us until you come and see for yourself.

#105

KuschlKing

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saudis have nothing but money bro, i came, I saw, I said. L Events W Money

#112

Tyekai

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So you're saying it's all fake news then?

#125

livefrmhollywood

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Difference between Saudi Govt and Saudi citizens. Your crown Prince assassinated and dismembered a journalist. I don't know anything about Saudi citizens, though.

#28

Galactc

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Ngl as much as this is bad esports really is just Saudi Arabia or gambling sponsors I don't think people have the money for stuff anymore and that's sad

#32

kimble

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ew

#34

cohnr

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fat fucking L

#36

froggy_lol

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Massive L

#37

Syr0m

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WWWWWWW

#38

rtg9000

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yikes

#42

rhyho

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yikes

#43

senordino

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Sideshow video essay incoming, we eating good

#45

arin2016

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Cry about it losers

#47

Refrainings

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saudi blood money is crazy

#50

bearmans

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do they represents org or country?
also, W move rito. money is money get your shit done.

#52

Liwus

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Its orgs

#54

Cheasle2

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Huge L for human rights!

#63

Stormyv8

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Why? it's oil no?

#84

DrudaL

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basically karna terhubung langsung dengan pemerintahnya

#55

Cheasle2

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Also can't wait for the shitshow that will be EWC GC, since Saudi seemed adamant that they have a GC event. Yeah, sure buddy.

#56

melon_fan

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Stinking pile of poop

#57

EndMePleaseUwU

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Good bruh if they gonna do this we better get high quality casters

#78

TM06Nick

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You'll get babybay and steel and you'll like it

#94

Cheasle2

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EWC doesn't get good casters bc all the good ones boycott it

#95

ATBSniper

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why is that

#124

shallow11

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just search sideshow EWC on youtube and watch the first two vids that come up. he explains the situation pretty well.

#59

Wezzaa

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Sideshow is not going to be happy with this one

#113

Tyekai

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It's not just Sideshow
Seems a fair amount of us here are also in agreement
Such a sad move to see Riot do this

#128

jamONE

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Money talks. and Riot needs money. lol

#133

Tyekai

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Of all the companies involved with esports, I imagine Riot is not doing too bad on their own.

#60

Warlordwibz

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Sideshow not gonna be happy with this one.

#62

fncOPIUM

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Sideshow no gonna be happy with this one.

#64

Froggy0_0

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zellsis mentioned
#BUYSENBUNDLE TODAY

#65

delighted

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RIOT KEKE

#66

Mjtchell

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Moral L, but eSports should grow from this

#111

nubee90

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brother, youre a qatari

#67

m0rtem

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instead of giving it to ewc, allow 3rd party tourny organizers to create some big tournys like how they do in CS. make it off season tho

#68

glittering_yard

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L + shameless + no morals + we will NOT be watching

#96

BabyWizard

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Damn right brazil bro

#71

gordonramsay

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Saudis still buying soft power I see

#115

Liwus

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like every other country will

#72

leiz

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rip valorant 2025

#73

SleepingSnorlax

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Seems Sideshow will be malding soon for this one surely

#74

Aayan

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interesting

#75

Hadus

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yuck

#76

SmallPenisProblem

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People wanted more events, but not like that lol.

#77

EndMePleaseUwU

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slideshow not gonna be happy with this one 🚬

#79

omsinzz

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What a point to ban Sinatraa, when you did this Riot ? LOL

#81

SleepingSnorlax

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Anyways he seems to never come back since he is back to where originally belonged dps games playing rivals all day

#80

Chow1E

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why L?
someone please tell me

#82

SleepingSnorlax

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https://youtu.be/fBZjFYU-OX8?feature=shared
https://youtu.be/GIilD9qAzeA?feature=shared
The context for EWC

#83

Gemiknight

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wouldn't this event conflict with the vct schedule? how would they schedule it?

#85

DanaWIN

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worst """""tier 1""""" event in history about to drop lmfao

#86

MassterBaiter

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It'll be only W if Tier 2 orgs can also have a way to participate in this otherwise the money won't flow down

#87

ninjaturtle

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Sports washing by Saudi Arabia = success

#93

MagnumRaging

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Massive L from riot holy fuck.
Don't take the blood money, especially with a tournament that doesn't make any sense scheduling wise in the VCT calendar...
Just run it like evolution series for china, an actual in between stage INTERESTING tournament.

#117

Liwus

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Blood money?

#97

Ronyko23

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Who cares its an off season event lol

#99

f0rest_fan

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0/8

#98

RzqoFoxie

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L

#102

mxlc95

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老板们疯狂撒钱

#103

Tomaster

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Joining EWC is a really bad idea. Some kind of World Cup with national teams or an all-stars event would've been far more interesting chill event for off-season than some random ass money hungry low viewership event. Really disappointing from Riot...

#104

cxber

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W NEWS

#107

Er3ngenes1s

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yeah we are entering into an era where almost none of the esports events be even watchable

#110

VaccineBoaster

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W for players/orgs finanicially

#114

Tyekai

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What a terrible decision
A sad day for sure
I will definitely will not be watching

I hope the only content I see created about this event is stuff trying to educate why we should be unhappy about it before it happens and then literally no mention of the event during or after.

#116

Biostar

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This is a good choice for everyone, they could have a million of these competitions and still no one would like the Saudi.

The optimal course of action is to suck up as much money as possible before the Saudi realize what they're doing is a poison pill.

Riot and the teams get the money, the fans who will watch the games get to watch the games.
Even for fans who hate the Saudis enough not to watch the games, it would be nice if the tourny doesn't work as soft power and the hatred spreads because of the Saudis' deceptive behavior in the long run.

Salman just keeps losing money for nothing.

Why not? just put up with their smugness for a while.

#118

Liwus

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omg someone who isnt dumb on VLR

#119

Portu4TheWin

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yikes

#121

taedium

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Do we really need to tap 👆 the sign again ?

#122

elseVALORANT

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yoo wut this?

#123

cristiadu

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sad, selling out to the saudis

#126

Schneefeuer1

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It's good that we get more tournaments but why does it gotta be the fucking saudis man.

#127

Liwus

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Because they are the ones with all the Oil and not much to spend on, pretty simple

#131

Akemifps

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Assuna in the post is crazy

#132

Zephyros

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guys im not familiar with exactly whats going on
but can anyone explain why this is an L

#134

Tyekai

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Stolen from SleepingSnorlax above:

https://youtu.be/fBZjFYU-OX8?feature=shared
https://youtu.be/GIilD9qAzeA?feature=shared
The context for EWC

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