RIYADH: The seventh week of elite competition at the Esports World Cup started on Wednesday, with StarCraft II beginning the countdown to the closing of the world’s biggest gaming and esports festival.
The penultimate week of action at Boulevard Riyadh City saw Korean star Maru and Chinese ace Oliveira reach the semifinals of the Group A Upper Bracket in StarCraft II. The winner will face the victor of American player Astrea and Korean competitor Dark in the final.
The Group B Upper Bracket semifinals placed Finnish fighter Seral up against Korean player herO, while Italian national Reynor awaited the winner of Korean performer Classic and French competitor Clem in the other semifinal.
StarCraft II has a $1m prize pool, with the champions claiming $400,000 and 1,000 Esports World Cup Club Championship points.
Week seven continues on Thursday with the much-anticipated Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III and EA Sports FC 24 tournaments. Each of this week's three competitions — which have their grand finals on Sunday — will play a key part in the dramatic finale of the EWC which concludes on Aug. 25. The closing ceremony will also feature the crowning of the EWC Club Champion.
