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  • Inaugural Esports World Cup signs off with historic closing ceremony

    Over the course of eight consecutive weeks, the EWC hosted 1,500 athletes and over 200 clubs, with a record-breaking $60m prize pool up for grabs across 22 tournaments and 21 titles. The ceremony concluded the biggest weekend in esports history, which also featured the 2024 Esports Awards and 2024 New Global Sport Conference.

  • Inaugural Esports World Cup signs off with historic closing ceremony

    Over the course of eight consecutive weeks, the EWC hosted 1,500 athletes and over 200 clubs, with a record-breaking $60m prize pool up for grabs across 22 tournaments and 21 titles. The ceremony concluded the biggest weekend in esports history, which also featured the 2024 Esports Awards and 2024 New Global Sport Conference.

  • Neymar celebrates Esports World Cup in Riyadh: ‘A great opportunity for Saudi Arabia and the world’

    Neymar Jr., the renowned Al Hilal and Brazil forward, has added his voice to the growing acclaim for the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, describing the event as a "great opportunity" for both Saudi Arabia and the global community. His endorsement came during a special appearance on Tuesday, where he led ‘Team Neymar Jr’ in a sold-out competition at the SEF Arena. Neymar, who has been with Saudi Pro League champions Al Hilal since 2023, is not just a football icon but also a passionate gamer.

  • Olympic victory of naturalized athlete sparks ‘sportswashing’ debate in Bahrain

    Winfred Yavi, a Bahraini runner of Kenyan origin, has bagged the first gold medal for the island nation at the Paris Olympics. The win has sparked mixed reactions among Bahrainis and the wider Arab world. Some view it as highlighting alleged sportswashing by Manama—a term for when sports are used to improve reputations tarnished by issues such as rights abuses. Others point to a claimed trend of naturalization of foreigners in the Gulf Arab monarchy. The latter is a particularly contentious matter in Bahrain, which has long been criticized for stripping indigenous Bahrainis—particularly dissidents—of their nationality.

  • E-sports World Cup and Olympics: Lasting Impact of E-sports on the Economy is in Full Display

    Revenues in the Saudi gaming sector are projected to hit $10.6 million in 2024, registering a growth rate (CAGR) of 8.90% over the next eight years, between 2024 and 2032. Much of this growth is largely driven by supportive government policies and investments, a rise in business expansion activity in Saudi Arabia, and the uptick in the popularity of e-sports among Saudis. Roughly two-thirds (67%) of the Saudi population consider themselves gamers. This signifies the rise in demand for consumption as the gaming culture continues to unabashedly take hold.

  • Sports Powerhouse IMG Forges Broadcast Production Partnership With Saudi Soccer Entities

    Starting from the 2024-25 season, IMG will take on the role of broadcast producer on top of being distributor outside the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for the Roshn Saudi League, King’s Cup and Saudi Super Cup in tandem with their partners.

  • Gamers are competing for a record-breaking $60m prize pool at the Esports World Cup

    The Esports World Cup is underway in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with thousands of participants from all corners of the globe competing across 21 games like Call of Duty, League of Legends and Dota 2. CNN’s Eleni Giokos speaks to some of the athletes vying for glory and a life-changing $60 million prize pool.

  • New Museum to Chronicle Saudi Arabian Esports Achievements

    Located in the SEF Arena in Riyadh City Boulevard, the museum houses a unique structure that makes up the world's largest gaming and esports area. It features a variety of sections, including a special department that documents significant moments in the history of Saudi Arabian esports, like the announcement of hosting the World Cup of Esports in the Kingdom, Mosaad Aldossary winning the FIFA eWorld Cup in 2018 and the Saudi Arabian national team winning the 2023 Overwatch World Cup. The museum will also include media interviews conducted by Deputy Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman with notable figures in the esports industry.

  • Saudi Arabia will host the inaugural Olympic Esports Games

    The decision to host the Olympics Esports Games in Saudi Arabia also comes at the perfect time as the country is currently holding the Esports World Cup in Riyadh. This event serves as proof of the Kingdom’s dedication to esports, drawing participants and enthusiasts from around the globe, and its ability to host large-scale events.

  • Kingdom of Gamers: Saudi Arabia to Host Inaugural Esports Olympiad

    In a groundbreaking move, Saudi Arabia has announced plans to host the first-ever Olympic-style Esports Games in 2025. This historic event will thrust competitive gaming into the global spotlight like never before, solidifying its status as a true mainstream phenomenon. The scope and scale of modern esports has transformed dramatically over the past two decades. What was once considered a niche hobby for socially awkward basement-dwellers is now a multi-billion dollar industry attracting worldwide audiences and elite athletic talent. The time is ripe for esports to take its rightful place alongside classic Olympic sports.