On Monday, the Esports World Cup was officially launched by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It is scheduled to take place annually, starting in the summer of 2024.
This was revealed at the New Global Sports Conference, which the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Sport and the Saudi Esports Federation co-hosted in Riyadh.
The announcement was made just two months following the end of the Gamers8 event.
Held in Riyadh last summer, Gamers8 included ten distinct esports titles, such as Fortnite, Rocket League, Dota 2, PUBG, and Rainbow Six Siege, with a $30 million prize fund. Cristiano Ronaldo, whose newest team Al-Nassr FC has close ties to the nation’s royal family, even supported the event.
The creation of the Esports World Cup and Gamers8 are components of Saudi Arabia’s National Gaming & Esports Strategy, which aims to establish the country as the global center for esports competitions and “take a bigger role in the international esports federations to ensure the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia a seat at the table.”
In addition, the crown prince declared the creation of the Esports World Cup Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering greater cooperation amongst esports participants.
The Esports World Cup is the natural next step in Saudi Arabia’s journey to become the premier global hub for gaming and esports, offering an unmatched esports experience that pushes the boundaries of the industry.
The competition will enhance our progress toward realizing the Vision 2030 objectives of diversifying the economy, growing the tourism sector, creating new jobs in various industries, and providing world-class entertainment for citizens, residents, and visitors alike.
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Saudi Arabia is progressively diversifying its economy in accordance with the objectives established in Vision 2030, making the growth of the esports industry extremely important.
The Esports World Cup promises to offer the biggest prize pools for winners in the history of esports and will include a number of well-known titles from different genres. Additionally, a wide range of events and activities will be provided for attendees of the event.
