On October 27, 2023, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, announced plans to host an annual Esports World Cup in the capital city of Riyadh. The tournament will be held starting in the summer of 2024 and will feature tournaments in several leading esports titles across all genres. It will also feature the largest prize pool in esports history, although the amount has not yet been disclosed.
The Esports World Cup will be run by the Esports World Cup Foundation, a new government-founded non-profit organization that aims to drive collaboration between esports stakeholders and enhance the sector’s sustainability.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said that the event is part of a wider scheme to accelerate the country’s National Gaming and Esports Strategy, which was launched in September 2022. The strategy aims to grow Saudi Arabia’s esports industry and position the country as a global hub for esports and sports competitions.
The Crown Prince also said that the Esports World Cup will help to realize the country’s Vision 2030 objectives of diversifying its economy, growing the tourism sector, and creating new jobs.
The announcement of the Esports World Cup has been met with excitement from the global esports community. Many gamers and esports professionals are looking forward to competing in the tournament and vying for the largest prize pool in esports history.
The Esports World Cup is also expected to be a major boost for the Saudi Arabian esports industry. The tournament will attract top talent from around the world and generate significant media coverage. This will help to raise the profile of esports in Saudi Arabia and attract more investment into the industry.
Overall, the announcement of the Esports World Cup is a positive development for the global esports community and for the Saudi Arabian esports industry. The tournament is expected to be a major event on the esports calendar and will help to further legitimize esports as a global sport.
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In addition to the main tournament, the Esports World Cup will also feature a number of other events, including:
- An esports festival with live music, food trucks, and other activities
- A business conference for esports professionals
- A series of workshops and educational events for gamers
The Esports World Cup is sure to be a major event for the global esports community. It will be the first major international esports tournament to be held in Saudi Arabia, and it is expected to attract top talent from around the world. The tournament is also expected to be a major boost for the Saudi Arabian esports industry.
