Khalidh Rizwan
COLOMBO
The inaugural E-Sports World Cup, which was held in Riyadh, concluded successfully on Monday.
The event, which took place over several days, was held under the patronage of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister HRH Mohammed Bin Salman.
Over the past eight weeks, Riyadh hosted the E-Games World Cup, drawing clubs and players from around the globe for the first time. With a prize pool exceeding $60 million, the event attracted approximately 500 teams and 1,500 professional players, establishing itself as the largest event in e-sports history.
At the conclusion of the 2024 E-Sports World Cup, Team Falcons from Saudi Arabia was crowned the champions. The World Cup trophy was presented by Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman. Team Falcons earned a total of $7 million in prize money and was recognized as the best club in this historic tournament.
Team Falcon secured the top position in the rankings with 5,665 points across 12 matches, claiming first place in both the “Call of Duty: Warzone” and “Free Fire” championships. This victory underscores Saudi Arabia’s growing interest in the e-sports industry and showcases the exceptional talent within the country.
The event unites international e-sports players, fans, developers, and producers, creating a shared platform for gaming and e-sports enthusiasts. This gathering marks a significant milestone in the e-sports industry.
This e-sports tournament, distinguished by its multi-game and multi-genre format, not only showcased competition among the world’s leading clubs but also supported the efforts of international organizations to advance the e-sports industry. It highlighted the positive influence of e-sports on communities and promoted cultural exchange while encouraging companies to view the e-sports sector as a significant and promising investment opportunity.
The event garnered significant attention, attracting over two million attendees. Additionally, there was a notable 29% increase in the number of travelers visiting Riyadh during the event compared to the previous year. The event also featured more than 32 supplementary entertainment and cultural activities. Impressively, the event reached a global audience of over 500 million viewers, with a cumulative total of more than 250 million hours watched, setting a new world record for this year.
The gaming and e-sports sector has emerged as one of the fastest-growing industries and investment opportunities worldwide. By 2023, the global market has reached an estimated value of approximately $200 billion. Saudi Arabia, in particular, has made significant strides in this dynamic field, successfully hosting major global events that have attracted international audiences. Notably, the Kingdom has hosted the e-Sports World Cup and has announced plans to host the 2025 E-Sports Olympics, further solidifying its position as a key player in the global e-sports landscape.
These events are being organized and conducted under the direct guidance of the country’s leadership, with the objective of positioning Saudi Arabia as a leading global platform for e-sports by 2030. All these initiatives are being developed and implemented as part of Saudi Vision 2030.
