Let the games begin! Riyadh opens Esports World Cup
For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport
Running until August 24, the event features more than 2,000 elite players, 25 tournaments across 24 leading titles, and a record-breaking prize pool of over $70 million, cementing its status as the biggest and most significant esports event ever staged.
The event will bring together the world's top 200 clubs to compete in a new format.
At the heart of the competition is the Club Championship, where teams accumulate points across multiple games to become the EWC Club Champion, claim a $7 million grand prize and hoist the coveted EWC Club Championship trophy.
The $70+ million prize pool also includes $38+ million for individual Game Championships, $5 million in global qualifier rewards, and $450,000 in MVP bonuses.
Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, the chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, praised the Saudi leadership for their support and said: 'The Kingdom is cementing its position as a global leader in gaming and esports. The Esports World Cup is a clear reflection of that progress.'
The event, run by the Esport World Cup Foundation, was first held in Riyadh last year with a purse of $62.5 million.
The team competition was won by Team Falcons, a Saudi esports team, in 2024.
'This event stands as a global milestone for esports by showcasing the scale, ambition, and future of competitive gaming,' Prince Faisal said. 'It is a moment that will shape the direction of the industry for years to come.'
Faisal bin Homran, chief product officer of Esports World Cup Foundation, added: 'The Esports World Cup is redefining what's possible in esports. It brings together the world's top teams to compete in the most iconic and advanced arenas, delivering a level of excitement that is unmatched across the industry.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
11 hours ago
- Arab News
Where We Are Going Today: ‘Liu Chong Qing Hot Pot' – Chinese restaurant in Riyadh
If you're seeking an affordable yet delightful hot pot experience, Liu Chong Qing Hot Pot in Riyadh is a must-try. This renowned Chinese restaurant chain specializes in Sichuan-style hot pot and boasts over 500 locations worldwide, making it a favorite among hot pot enthusiasts. The restaurant offers both spicy and mild broth, catering to a range of preferences. But the broth is just the beginning; the open buffet is truly the highlight. Guests can choose from a vast array of fresh ingredients, including shrimp, crab, lettuce, salmon, tuna, and various types of mushrooms. This buffet style allows you to pick exactly what you want, ensuring a personalized dining experience. Once you've gathered your ingredients, you can return to your table, where raw beef awaits. One of the best parts of the experience is cooking the beef to your liking. You can choose how you want it done — whether rare, medium, or well-done — adding a layer of customization to your meal. It's exciting to watch the raw meat sizzle in the hot pot. You can wrap the cooked beef in lettuce or enjoy it on its own, perhaps with a side of rice. Refreshing fruits and traditional Chinese tea are served at the end of the meal, which rounds out the experience beautifully. The restaurant's location in the vibrant Hittin district of the Saudi capital adds to its appeal, ensuring a lively atmosphere that enhances the dining experience. The branch in Riyadh is huge and boasts a corner that allows visitors to try traditional Chinese outfits and take pictures. From the variety of ingredients to the enjoyable cooking process, Liu Chong Qing delivers a satisfying hot pot experience that's both fun and delicious.
Leaders
20 hours ago
- Leaders
Esports World Cup Makes Triumphant Return with Unprecedented Global Participation
Saudi Arabia is solidifying its status as a global powerhouse in gaming, esports, and entertainment by hosting the most expansive edition of the Esports World Cup (EWC) to date. This year's tournament has set new records in both size and international reach, drawing more than 2,000 players from 200 teams representing over 100 countries. These competitors will battle across 25 tournaments in 24 different games, including new titles like chess, Valorant, and Fatal Fury, for a historic USD 70 million prize pool—the largest in esports history. The opening press conference attracted widespread attention from media outlets around the world, further highlighting the global interest in the event. Unmatched Fan Engagement, Media Reach Held in Riyadh, the EWC has become the world's premier esports event, known for its scale, cutting-edge systems, premium content, and immersive fan experiences. With more than 3.4 billion people globally engaged in gaming, esports has grown into a mainstream cultural force. In 2024, global esports viewership surpassed 574 million, and it's forecast to exceed 640 million by 2027. Esports World Cup Visitor attendance is expected to exceed the 2.6 million mark reached last year, thanks to the event's extended seven-week duration (July 7 to August 24) and skyrocketing ticket demand—sales are up over 30%, with average ticket values increasing by 600% and international purchases tripling. EWC 2025 will be broadcast in over 30 languages across more than 100 countries, with content supported by 80+ media partners. Digital engagement has surged across platforms like Twitch, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, with a fourfold increase in reach and fivefold rise in interactions. Strategic Growth, Vision for Future This year, the Esports World Cup Foundation has expanded its Club Support Program from 30 to 40 participating clubs, welcoming new entries from major markets such as China and India—evidence of the tournament's widening international influence. These developments are aligned with Saudi Arabia's National Gaming and Esports Strategy, a forward-looking plan aiming to create 39,000 jobs and contribute USD 13.3 billion to the national economy by 2030. The Esports World Cup continues to be more than just a competition—it's a transformative platform showcasing the rise of gaming as a global cultural and economic force. Related Topics: In Photos: Saudi Crown Prince Awards the Esports World Cup Champions NCA Launches Interactive Cybersecurity Awareness Exhibition for Hajj Pilgrims Saudi Arabia Named 'Country of the Year' After Record-Breaking Leap in StartupBlink Index Haramain Railway Boosts Hajj 2025 Capacity by 25% Operation Gideon Chariots: Israel Intensifies War amid Dire Conditions in Gaza Short link : Post Views: 16
Arab News
21 hours ago
- Arab News
REVIEW: James Gunn's ‘Superman' — a fun, heartfelt take on the Man of Steel
DUBAI: James Gunn's 'Superman' marks a confident debut for the newly rebooted DC Universe, now firmly under the helm of the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' director. Rather than chase the shadow of past gloom-ridden DC iterations, Gunn leans into sincerity, fun, and a touch of chaos to deliver a film that feels refreshingly light and cheerful. It's heartfelt — though heavy-handed at times — and also makes room for some timely social commentary. In short, it's a comic book movie that remembers it's based on a comic book. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ Set in a world where Superman is already known but still finding his place, the film follows Clark Kent as he juggles his day job at the Daily Planet newspaper with his not-so-secret life saving the world. Things take a turn when Lex Luthor — now a tech mogul with an envy problem — makes a move to privatize security and put Superman out of commission. Meanwhile, Superman is caught between being a symbol of hope and a political lightning rod, as he personally stops a country from invading its neighbor. David Corenswet takes on the red cape with a straight-edged wonder and charm that feels closer to Christopher Reeve than Henry Cavill. Rachel Brosnahan's Lois Lane, meanwhile, is the sharpest person in the room and knows it. Their chemistry is palpable, with an early interview scene between the two setting the tone for the rest of the film. For a film that boasts some high-octane action scenes, the tension this pair create in a tiny living room is unrivalled. Gunn's signature mix of sentiment and snark is all over the place, even if pared back compared to his Marvel days. And there's a constant undercurrent of real-world commentary: Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor is a psychopathic tech tycoon with a god complex (guess who?). And while it never turns preachy, the film doesn't shy away from allusions to Gaza, Ukraine, or the refugee crisis. Superman, after all, is an immigrant. And while Gunn doesn't waste the metaphor, it's impossible not to feel uneasy when the real-world suffering beamed straight into our social media feeds every day is portrayed alongside cartoon-ish fight scenes. Ultimately, Gunn's 'Superman' is an entertaining two hours at the cinema. Is it 'Guardians of the Galaxy'-level good? No. Does it need to be? No. Instead, it's a slightly messy, surprisingly political, and undeniably fun return to a hero who believes in doing the right thing, no matter the cost. And after years of emo DC, that might be just what the doctor ordered.
