Im crine ewc

Esports World Cup Defense:

1. The Esports World Cup is a global, S-Tier Tournament - https://liquipedia.net/valorant/S-Tier_Tournaments
2. $1.25mil Prize Pool for 2025, $2mil Prize Pool for 2026 (both greater than a Masters event)
3. The teams that attended the Esports World Cup 2025 qualified through VCT Stage 1 or the EWC qualifiers. There were 0 invitations (unlike RedBull and other off-seasons). The best teams of the world at the time were playing and competing for the 1.25mil prize pool. Similar EWC qualification stage for 2026.
4. ALL VCT teams have EWC as a part of their schedule a year in advance (unlike other non-VCT tournaments). It is unserious to consider EWC as an irrelevant tournament. ALL teams have plans for it before the season starts.
5. Objectively, EWC is a valid tournament (equal to a Masters at the minimum). Politics do not decide whether the tournament is mickey or not.
6. EWC is a yearly tournament (2025 onwards until 2028 minimum). This is not a one-time tournament.
7. Format:
   Single-Elim Playoffs & Grand Finals (The EWC Grand Final is more fair than any VCT Grand Final because there is no 2-map ban advantage for either of the finalists)
   Consolation Final (to ensure the 3rd and 4th place teams get the prize money they deserve)
   Group Stage: All winner/loser/decider matches are a best of 3 (same group stage format as VCT Champions).
8. Rewards better-performing regions: (EMEA did the best at EWC 2025, so they get an additional slot at EWC 2026 which is taken from the worst-performing region at EWC 2025 (China)).