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Esports World Cup opens in Saudi Arabia

In the heart of Saudi Arabia’s capital, a groundbreaking event for esports is unfolding, stirring both excitement and apprehension within the industry.

The Esports World Cup (EWC), which kicked off on July 3, has gathered professional gamers, publishers, and fans from around the globe for an eight-week extravaganza of competitive gaming.

With a staggering prize pool exceeding $60 million, the EWC has captured global attention. Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, the organization behind the event, shared with CNN Sport that this spectacle aims to unify the esports industry.

"The question was: what is missing in the sports landscape? To bring this on the similar scale as the largest traditional sports events and something that brings together the whole industry," Reichert said.

“There’s a fantastic landscape of amazing tournaments, leagues, clubs, all of that stuff exists [in esports]. But what is the one thing that brings it all together? That was the guiding principle when we thought about [the EWC], designed it and then announced it.”

While the tournament promises to invigorate the esports scene, it has also reignited longstanding concerns regarding the industry’s relationship with Saudi Arabia.