Bruce Dias 
In 2024, Saudi Arabia made a notable impact on the global esports scene by hosting the first-ever Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh. This landmark event not only highlighted the Kingdom’s dedication to the growing esports sector but also established new benchmarks in competitive gaming.
A Historic Milestone in Esports
The EWC, which took place from July 3 to August 25, 2024, was a significant occasion that gathered over 1,500 top players and more than 200 teams from across the globe. These competitors faced off in 22 tournaments featuring 21 popular gaming titles, including fan favorites like League of Legends, Counter-Strike II, and Dota 2.
One of the standout features of the EWC was its unprecedented prize pool of over $60 million, the largest in esports history. This impressive amount was allocated across different categories: game championships ($33 million), player bounties ($1 million), qualifiers ($7 million), and a cross-game competitive format club championship ($20 million).
Saudi Arabia’s Vision and Investment in Esports
The successful hosting of the EWC is part of Saudi Arabia’s larger strategic plan to diversify its economy and position itself as a global leader in gaming and esports. In 2023, the Kingdom introduced ‘The National Gaming and Esports Strategy’ (NGES), which aims to boost the gaming sector’s contribution to Saudi Arabia’s GDP by over $13.3 billion (SAR50 billion) and generate 39,000 new jobs by 2030.
Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, emphasized the importance of the EWC in this framework, noting that the competition would help advance the Vision 2030 goals of economic diversification, tourism growth, job creation across various sectors, and offering top-notch entertainment for citizens, residents, and visitors alike.
Global Participation and Enthusiastic Reception
The EWC brought together leading esports clubs and players from around the world, showcasing the event’s widespread appeal and competitive nature. The tournament featured a variety of games, including Apex Legends, Call of Duty, Counter-Strike II, EA Sports FC 24, Fortnite, League of Legends, Rocket League, StarCraft II, Street Fighter 6, and Tekken 8, among others.
More than just a competition, the event celebrated gaming culture, attracting millions of fans both on-site and online. Over its course, the EWC garnered 500 million viewers who engaged with more than 250 million hours of content. Notably, the event achieved its highest peak concurrent viewership during the League of Legends match, where 3.5 million viewers watched the legendary player Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok lead T1 to victory against Top Esports with some esports betting sites offering odds to match the occasion.
Team Falcons: The Homegrown Champions
A standout moment of the EWC was the remarkable performance of Saudi Arabia’s Team Falcons. The team excelled in the competition, taking part in 19 of the 22 titles and clinching the esteemed EWC Club Championship. Their impressive run included two tournament victories and six finishes in the top three, which earned them the $7 million grand prize along with the EWC Club Championship trophy.
The triumph of Team Falcons was celebrated as a national milestone, highlighting the Kingdom’s increasing influence in the global esports scene. The team’s achievements also showcased the success of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to cultivate local talent and create opportunities for gamers to shine on an international level.
A Vision for the Future
The first Esports World Cup (EWC) has set a remarkable standard for future esports events, excelling in both scale and organization. Its success has solidified Saudi Arabia’s role as a significant player in the global esports scene and highlighted how esports can unite various cultures and communities.
Looking forward, the Kingdom aims to build on this success by further investing in the gaming industry, hosting additional international competitions, and nurturing local talent. The EWC is anticipated to become an annual event, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s dedication to the growth and advancement of the global esports sector.
Uniting The World’s Leading Players
In summary, the Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia was not just a tournament; it marked a pivotal moment that demonstrated the transformative impact of esports. By uniting the world’s top players and offering record-breaking prize money, the EWC has set the stage for a new chapter in competitive gaming, with Saudi Arabia leading the way.
