First-Ever Esports World Cup Concludes in Saudi Arabia, Sets New Recordfor Prize Pool
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The inaugural Esports WorldCup concluded on August 25th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking a historic moment for the global esports scene. The event, held over eight weeks,attracted over 1,500 professional players from around the world, vying for a record-breaking prize pool exceeding $60 million.
Thisunprecedented sum surpassed the previous record set by Gamers8 in 2023, which offered $45 million in prize money. The Esports World Cup’s massive prize pool, estimated at over 428 million Chinese yuan,solidified its position as the largest esports tournament in history.
The event garnered immense attention, drawing over 2 million visitors. The influx of esports enthusiasts contributed to a notable increase in tourism in Riyadh, with visitor numbers exceeding those of theprevious year by over 29%.
The tournament featured a diverse lineup of popular esports titles, including:
- Apex Legends
- CS2
- Dota 2
- EA Sports FC 24
- Fortnite
- Free Fire
- Honor of Kings
- League of Legends
- MobileLegends: Bang Bang
- Overwatch 2
- PUBG
- PUBG MOBILE
- Rainbow Six Siege
- RENNSPORT
- Rocket League
- StarCraft II
- Street Fighter 6
- Teamfight Tactics
- Tekken 8
One of the highlights of the tournament was the Street Fighter6 final, held on August 12th. Chinese player Xiaohai Zeng Zhuojun emerged victorious, defeating Japanese player KAWANO 5-2 to claim the $300,000 (approximately 2.139 million Chinese yuan) grand prize. Notably, sixout of the eight finalists in the Street Fighter 6 competition hailed from Japan.
In a grand closing ceremony, Saudi officials announced that the second Esports World Cup will return in the summer of 2025, taking place between July and August. This announcement signals Saudi Arabia’s commitment to fostering the growth ofthe esports industry and solidifying its position as a global esports hub.
The success of the first Esports World Cup is a testament to the rapid growth and increasing popularity of esports globally. The tournament’s massive prize pool, diverse game selection, and impressive viewership numbers demonstrate the immense potential of esports as a source ofentertainment, competition, and economic opportunity.
The event also highlights Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a leading player in the esports landscape. The country’s investment in infrastructure, technology, and talent development has already yielded significant results, attracting international esports events and fostering a thriving local esports community.
As the esportsindustry continues to evolve, the Esports World Cup is poised to become a cornerstone event, attracting top players, passionate fans, and global attention. The tournament’s future promises to be filled with exciting competition, technological advancements, and further growth for the esports ecosystem.
【来源】https://www.ithome.com/0/791/058.htm
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