Second half of the summer-long Esports World Cup kicks off on Wednesday in Riyadh RIYADH: Following a weekend where new champions were crowned across three competitions, the Esports World Cup returns this week with a trio of tournaments topping the week five bill at Boulevard Riyadh City. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The summer event, which began on July 3, is now at the halfway stage. The second half of the EWC kicks off with the $2 million “Rainbow Six Siege” at SEF Arena on Wednesday and has 16 clubs competing in two groups of eight. Flying the flag for the Middle East is Geekay Esports, the Emirati club set to compete against opposition from the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania. The “Rainbow Six Siege” contest runs daily until Sunday, Aug. 4, with $750,000 and 1,000 EWC Club Championship points awaiting the winners. Another event making its EWC debut is “Apex Legends.” The $2 million tournament hosts 40 international clubs split into two groups of 20 teams, and face a 10-game series to reach the finals. The highly competitive field includes Saudi Arabia’s Team Falcons, Ukraine’s Natus Vincere (NAVI), Canada’s Gaimin Gladiators, and Japan’s Crazy Raccoon — all winners of EWC events this summer. An “Apex Legends” victory would strengthen their bids for the highly coveted EWC Club Championship — and audiences are assured of epic esports drama across its four-day duration. Elsewhere during week five, the “Honor of Kings” Mid-Season Invitational 2024 takes center stage with 12 clubs vying for glory. The $3 million tournament begins with group stage action on Thursday, followed by the quarterfinals, semifinals, and Grand Final over the weekend. The EWC runs until Aug. 25 with 22 tournaments across 21 titles during its eight-week duration.