Riyadh: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday, October 23, announced the launch of the Esports World Cup to be held annually in Riyadh starting summer 2024, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
The announcement was made during the New Global Sport Conference in the kingdom, attended by senior officials and global leaders in sports, gaming, and esports sectors.
The event, said to be the largest of its kind, will feature the most popular games in the world across all genres and have the largest prize pool in eSports history.
The launch of the tournament is expected to realize the goals envisioned in Saudi Arabia’s national gaming and esports strategy.
The Esports World Cup aims to increase the gaming sector’s contribution to Saudi Arabia’s GDP by more than 50 billion Saudi Riyals and create 39,000 new jobs by 2030.
The Crown Prince has also announced the creation of the Esports World Cup Foundation, a non-profit organisation aimed at fostering collaboration among esports stakeholders.
“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,” said the crown prince.
He added, “The competition will enhance our progress toward 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.”
