When Saudi Arabia’s first-ever esports world cup, which takes place in Riyadh this summer, kicks off it will pit a number of premier esports teams up against one another for a $60 million prize pool, a record for the esports industry.
According to PocketGamer, Saudi Arabia’s upcoming event will host top esports clubs and esports players in 20 tournaments across 19 competitive titles over eight weeks while also introducing the EWC Club Championship that offers $20 million to the top 16 clubs based on their performance across a variety of games.
The winning team will be crowned Esports World Cup Club Champions while the remaining prize pool includes Game Championships, Player Bounties, as well as Qualifiers, totaling over $33 million.
The EWC lineup includes 19 titles, from the popular mainstays such as Apex Legends, Fortnite and League of Legends to the classic titles such as Street Fighter and StarCraft II and more games are set to be announced in the coming weeks.
“The Esports World Cup is the natural next step in Saudi Arabia’s journey to become the premier global hub for gaming and esports, offering an unmatched esports experience that pushes the boundaries of the industry” KSA’s crown prince and prime minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman said of the event.
“The competition will enhance our progress towards realizing the Vision 2030 objectives of diversifying the economy, growing the tourism sector, creating new jobs in various industries, and providing world-class entertainment for citizens, residents, and visitors alike.”
The boom of esports and gaming in the MENA region is undeniable, and Saudi Arabia is hoping that this event will help accelerate its National Gaming and Esports Strategy.
