The inaugural Esports World Cup is set to conclude in spectacular fashion with a star-studded closing ceremony in Riyadh. From August 20-25, the Kingdom’s capital will be the epicentre of the esports world as it celebrates the achievements of the tournament and crowns the first-ever Esports World Cup Club Champion.
The Esports World Cup, a global celebration of competitive excellence and esports fandom, debuted in the summer of 2024, bringing together the world’s top esports teams and athletes to compete for the largest-ever prize pool in the industry. Featuring a unique cross-game structure, the competition has been a massive success, attracting gamers, publishers, and fans from around the globe to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The Closing Ceremony, hosted at “The Venue”—a cutting-edge complex within Boulevard Riyadh City—promises an unforgettable experience. International music sensations Kid Cudi, Sevdaliza, and Steve Aoki will take the stage, ensuring the event ends on a high note. Attendees can expect an electrifying atmosphere complete with live performances, dazzling fireworks, and the latest in immersive technology, all culminating in a grand celebration of the Esports World Cup’s success.
Launched on July 3, the Esports World Cup has been an eight-week-long spectacle, featuring 22 tournaments across 21 gaming titles and offering a record-breaking prize pool of $60 million. This event has not only captivated the global gaming community but has also positioned Saudi Arabia at the forefront of the sports and entertainment industry, in line with the ambitious goals of Vision 2030.
HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, expressed his pride in the event’s success, stating, “The Esports World Cup has put Saudi Arabia at the centre of the sports and entertainment world by setting a new benchmark for excellence. It has united and thrilled millions of people across the globe, transcending traditional sports boundaries and showcasing the potential of live gaming arenas to capture the hearts and minds of fans worldwide. Record-breaking viewership and participation levels underscore its transformative impact—not only for esports but for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
This sentiment echoes the broader objectives of Saudi Arabia’s National Gaming and Esports Strategy, launched two years ago, which aims to establish the Kingdom as a global hub for gaming and esports by 2030. The success of the Esports World Cup represents a significant step toward realising these ambitions, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s capacity to host world-class events and foster an ecosystem where gaming and entertainment thrive.
The Closing Ceremony will also see the formal crowning of the first Esports World Cup Club Champion. This unique cross-game competitive format rewards the overall performance of teams throughout the tournament. The winning club will not only receive the prestigious EWC Club Championship trophy, first unveiled at the Opening Ceremony, but also a life-changing prize of $7 million. Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, remarked, “The Esports World Cup has exceeded expectations and propelled the esports industry to new heights by driving growth across the entire ecosystem. The Closing Ceremony will be a celebration of these achievements, a major moment not just for esports, but for the entire gaming industry.”
The final week of the Esports World Cup is packed with highlights:
- August 24: The 2024 Esports Awards, the most prestigious event in the esports calendar, will celebrate excellence across the industry, honouring the best clubs, athletes, content creators, and more. The ceremony, which attracted over 22 million viewers last year, will include a Lifetime Achievement mixer, Red Carpet Event, Esports Village, and a star-studded awards ceremony.
- August 25: The Closing Ceremony will feature performances by Kid Cudi, Sevdaliza, and Steve Aoki, who are set to deliver unforgettable live sets. Kid Cudi, a two-time Grammy-winning artist, is known for his passionate global fanbase and his deep ties to the gaming community, with his music frequently featured in video game soundtracks. Sevdaliza, renowned for her unique sound that blends alternative pop, indie, and avant-garde music, will bring her boundary-pushing style to the stage. Steve Aoki, with nearly four billion streams and over 13 million monthly listeners on Spotify, is a global music phenomenon with deep roots in the gaming world.
- August 24-25: The second edition of the New Global Sport Conference (NGSC) will gather leaders from esports, gaming, business, sports, and entertainment to discuss ‘The Future of Fandom’. Speakers will include HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, Ralf Reichert, and other luminaries from across the industry.
The Esports World Cup has been a remarkable journey, not just for the competitors but for the global gaming community. As the event draws to a close, it leaves behind a legacy of innovation, community, and excellence that will inspire the future of esports and gaming. With Saudi Arabia firmly establishing itself as a global hub for the industry, the Esports World Cup marks the beginning of a new era in competitive gaming.
Photo – top of page: International music star Kid Cudi. Image Courtesy: EWC Foundation
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