RIYADH: Esports enthusiasts are gearing up for a sensational spectacle with the inaugural GCC League 2024 finals in Riyadh on June 27-28, when contenders go head-to-head across the Rocket League and TEKKEN 8 competitions.
Presented by the Saudi Esports Federation, the GCC League is the newest Middle Eastern esports tournament that brings together six countries and some of the region’s greatest athletes and clubs for a series of showdowns.
SEF’s Chairman Prince Faisal bin Bandar said on Tuesday: “We cannot wait for the GCC League 2024 finale, and we share the excitement of esports fans throughout the region and beyond, ahead of what promises to be another world-class event in Riyadh.”
The first-ever edition began last month as 12 teams from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE faced off in an online Rocket League tournament, the vehicular soccer game and one of the world’s most popular titles.
Following 10 days of non-stop group stage action from May 12-21, the stage is set for exhilarating back-to-back encounters later this month.
Live from Riyadh, the remaining contestants will battle it out for regional supremacy and their share of a $150,000 prize pool across Rocket League and another world-renowned title, TEKKEN 8.
Prince Faisal said: “The enthusiasm, passion, and love for esports in all GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) nations are well-known around the globe — and this is one of many factors behind what makes the GCC League particularly exciting and intriguing. This upcoming event is simply unmissable for all with a vested interest in our industry.”
Among the challengers are Xenon Esports of Kuwait and the Oman National Team B. They advanced to the finals as winners of Groups A and B respectively in the tournament’s first online stage last month.
Also in the running for glory are Group A qualifiers, the Bahrain National Team, and Group B qualifiers Unity Esports (Kuwait) and KHK Esports (Bahrain).
Prince Faisal added: “Welcoming the region’s biggest and best talent for a brand-new competition is the latest illustration of our enduring commitment to provide new opportunities for regional talent to shine.”
Alongside the greatest athletes and clubs from across the region, local esports fans are sure to provide Team Falcons and Twisted Minds with incredible home support as these clubs are representing the host nation.
Esports enthusiasts set for GCC League 2024 finals in Riyadh
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Esports enthusiasts set for GCC League 2024 finals in Riyadh
- ‘The enthusiasm, passion, and love for esports in all GCC nations are well-known around the globe,’ says SEF’s Chairman Prince Faisal bin Bandar
- Contestants to battle it out for regional supremacy, share of $150,000 prize pool across Rocket League and TEKKEN 8
Kingdom’s esports chief ‘proud’ as Riyadh prepares to host 16th IESF World Esports Championship
- Event will bring together more than 50 nations
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is hosting the 16th edition of the International Esports Federation’s World Esports Championship in Riyadh from Monday.
The event, which is being hosted by the Saudi Esports Federation and runs until Nov. 19, will bring together more than 50 nations across six major esports tournaments at the SEF Arena at Boulevard Riyadh City.
The championship will feature contests in Counter-Strike 2 (including both an open and a women’s category), Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (open and women’s tournaments), PUBG Mobile, and Dota 2.
With over 200 matches set to take place, more than 480 esports enthusiasts are ready to participate and showcase their skills in what organizers hope will be a landmark international event for the Kingdom.
Abdullah Al-Nasser, head of esports at the Saudi Esports Federation, said: “Hosting the IESF World Esports Championship 2024 in Riyadh is another proud accolade for the federation in the Kingdom’s gaming and esports journey to becoming a global hub for the industry.
“We are delighted to welcome all athletes and countries to the WEC24 ahead of what is going to be a fascinating and intense competition.”
The championship’s opening ceremony is to be held on Monday at the main stage of the SEF Arena.
The event will include the introduction of participating teams, highlighted by a flag ceremony displaying the flags of each competing nation. Those attending will also be treated to a look back at the history of the showcase, featuring memorable moments, rivalries, and significant achievements from past editions of the World Esports Championship.
ESL Saudi Challenge — everything you need to know
- The tournament playoffs will take place in Riyadh from Nov. 8-16, with the final on Dec. 7
RIYADH: The ESL Saudi Challenge qualifiers have officially ended and the stage is now set for the playoffs, which take place from Nov. 8-16.
After an intense round of Overwatch2 competition, the best teams from across Saudi Arabia have secured their spots and are ready to face off in the next phase, with a total prize pool of $20,000 up for grabs.
The success of the recent Esports World Cup in Riyadh highlighted the popularity of gaming among Saudi players and fans, and that looks set to continue with more competitions taking place across the Kingdom in the coming years.
The ESL Saudi Challenge, organized by esports and video game entertainment company ESL FACEIT Group, will also give the victors a chance to compete on a global stage.
During the playoffs, teams face off in an attempt to advance to the Finals, where the top three teams will go head-to-head in front of a live audience at VOV Gaming in Riyadh on Dec. 7.
Schedule and Format
Playoffs: Nov. 8-16
The best eight teams face off in the double elimination bracket matches.
Grand Finals: Dec. 7
The top three teams from the playoffs compete in lower bracket and upper bracket for the Grand Final. The winner will be crowned ESL Saudi Challenge Champion, taking home the top prize of $9,000 and qualifying for an international event in 2025.
Teams
The ESL Saudi Challenge will see some of the best teams in Overwatch compete for the grand prize:
Twisted Minds
Vision Esports
Himawari
Amigos
Roc esports
Al-Qadisiah
Dragons
Negative Mental Attitude
Prize money (USD)
Total pool: $20,000
1st: $9,000
2nd: $5,000
3rd: $3,000
4th: $,1000
5th-8th: $500
Where to watch
Fans can watch the playoffs on the ESL Arabia Twitch and YouTube channels. For those unable to tune in live, all matches will also be available to watch on-demand free of charge via YouTube.
ESL Saudi Challenge to offer Kingdom’s gamers a path to global competition
- ESL FACEIT Group announces first-ever exclusive tournament for Saudi Arabia, kicking off on Oct. 18
RIYADH: ESL FACEIT Group has announced the launch of the ESL Saudi Challenge, the first-ever ESL tournament exclusively for the Saudi gaming community.
Starting on Oct. 18 with Overwatch 2 as the featured game, the event will provide a unique opportunity for local talent to compete on the global stage.
Running until Dec. 7, it will see Saudi’s top teams battle for a share of a $20,000 prize pool. The competition begins with three open tournaments hosted on the FACEIT platform, with the top two teams from each securing a playoff place. These will join two invited teams in an intense double-elimination showdown, culminating in a thrilling final at VOV Gaming in Riyadh.
“The ESL Saudi Challenge is more than just a tournament — it’s the beginning of a new chapter for esports in Saudi Arabia,” said Franck Guignery, ESL FACEIT Group’s senior vice president for the Middle East & Africa region.
“By featuring Overwatch 2 and providing a pathway to international competition, we’re offering Saudi esports enthusiasts a chance to showcase their skills on a global stage. Whether you’re an aspiring esports player, a professional player or a fan, this is your chance to be part of the action and witness the rise of local talent.”
ESL FACEIT Group is the world's largest esports and video game entertainment company. In January 2022 it was acquired by Saudi Arabia’s Savvy Games Group, which is 100 percent owned by the country's Public Investment Fund, for $1.5 billion. ESL FACEIT Group has been appointed the main official operating partner of the Esports World Cup for the next five years.
Experts explore intersection of culture, creativity at NGSC Riyadh
- The panel brought together creative professionals from diverse fields, including entertainment, art, and fashion
RIYADH: People are more likely to invest in things they feel connected to, according to the founder and president of Works Collective, Nate Morley, speaking on a panel titled “Cultural Crossroads in Games” on the second day of the New Global Sport Conference in Riyadh.
The panel brought together creative professionals from diverse fields, including entertainment, art, and fashion. They explored the impact of cultural influence on creative industries and emphasized the need to balance cultural authenticity with commercial success.
Je Alipio, director and head of business development at Walt Disney Co. for APAC & MENA, discussed how Disney innovates while maintaining the integrity of its beloved characters and stories.
“It’s really about finding the right partner,” he said, noting that collaborating with like-minded creatives who bring fresh ideas can unlock many opportunities.
Alipio also outlined two approaches to business collaboration: a top-down method, where Disney enters a partner’s space to inform or influence it, and a bottom-up approach, where partners are empowered to expand their ideas on a larger scale under Disney’s guidance.
Khaled Makhshoush, a Saudi artist specializing in digital pixel art, began his career inspired by video games. He discussed the cultural elements featured in his work and how he draws inspiration from his surroundings. “You start to see things — the places you grow up in, the city … that’s the main source of cultural inspiration.”
Makhshoush noted that when creating an image, his focus is not on accuracy but on conveying emotion. By “breaking it down and then rebuilding it” based on his interpretation, he fosters a connection between personal and cultural elements.
In discussing how to create culturally authentic gaming experiences, Morley remarked: “One of the worst things you can do is to be a cultural appropriator.”
He elaborated that while fostering a platform that invites people to contribute and expand ideas is valuable, appropriating elements from other cultures and using them as your own is problematic.
Morley stressed that collaboration and diversity are key to elevating a brand. He said that within a single brand framework, one can showcase a multitude of voices in various ways, adding that a distinctive mix of backgrounds and industries transforms the brand from a mere “copy and paste” entity into an inclusive “platform for expression.”
Nicola Mizon, COO and co-founder of Kutur Runway and Vitza DGTL, discussed the increasing efforts by fashion brands to integrate into the esports sector through advanced technology. She noted that there is a growing demand for audiences “to look their best.
“We want to create a fashion gaming platform that’s at the intersection of technology, commerce, and games and bring everyone together to celebrate the art of fashion in the digital space,” she said.
This involves engaging in discussions with local designers and creators to understand their needs for a gaming platform that allows them to feel celebrated and unrestricted in their creative expression, such as crafting innovative concepts like “dresses made of fire.”
Expanding the discussion on integrating fashion within both cultural and digital contexts, Reem Al-Kanhal, fashion designer and creative director of brand Reem AlKanhal, said: “Fashion is connected to everything.”
Al-Kanhal emphasized that, given the extensive time newer generations spend online, it is crucial to integrate cultural elements — such as traditional wardrobes and national landmarks — into games for the sake of cultural preservation.
She concluded: “I think (that) owning your story is your power,” highlighting its significance for personal ambition and maintaining cultural connections.
Inaugural Esports World Cup signs off with historic closing ceremony
- Sunday saw the first-ever EWC draw to a close as in the presence of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
- 1,500 athletes and over 200 clubs competed across 22 tournaments and 21 titles over the course of eight weeks for a record-breaking $60m prize pool
RIYADH: The Esports World Cup ended on Sunday with a closing ceremony and the attendance of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince and prime minister.
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.
Reflecting on the event, Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, said: “The EWC has underscored the transformative impact of esports and the pivotal role that this incomparable industry now plays in cultures and societies all around the world — its inclusive and empowering nature is something truly unique.
“For eight successive weeks, this unparalleled event has brought the entire international gaming community together like never before, inviting all to participate in this milestone moment in gaming and esports history. We could not be more delighted with what’s transpired this summer; it’s a historic moment in time that Saudi Arabia and the world will always remember fondly.”
Alongside a series of live performances, the ceremony saw Saudi Arabia’s hometown heroes, Team Falcons officially crowned as the first-ever EWC Club Champions. Having stormed to victory in an exceptional campaign that included two tournament championships and six Top 3 finishes, Team Falcons’ chairman, Mossad “Msdossary” Al-Dossary collected the $7mn first prize and EWC Club Championship trophy.
After the awards presentation, winning players throughout the EWC were also honored in the Celebration of Champions.
Ralf Reichert, CEO of the EWC Foundation, called the tournament an “incredible success.”
“The EWC has been an incredible success in year one, driving global esports to new heights,” he said.
“I’m proud of accomplishing what we set out to do — bringing together the best games, clubs, and players while offering a life-changing prize pool and building the world’s largest esports festival. Congratulations to Team Falcons, who were rewarded for their competitive excellence and investment across many new games by becoming the first EWC Club Champions. I can’t wait to gather the best of the industry again for another epic EWC in 2025.”
Throughout its duration from July 3 — Aug. 25, the EWC drew 500 million viewers who consumed over 250 million hours of content. Additionally, it was confirmed that the event recorded its highest peak concurrent viewership during the League of Legends competition, when 3.5 million people watched legendary superstar Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok guide T1 to victory over Top Esports.
