Years ago, gaming was considered a relatively unknown pastime but today it is a multimillion-dollar industry for professionals with its own Esports World Cup.
This year the tournament has prize money of over SR280 million ($75 million), drawing more than 2,000 players from over 100 countries, and a global audience of hundreds of millions.
As more paths to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy emerge, these numbers signal the industry is a worthwhile investment. And the growth can be witnessed right now.
The 2026 Esports World Cup is currently underway in Paris, the tournament’s first edition outside Riyadh since its founding there in 2023. What has not changed is that the tournament is unlike anything else in competitive gaming.
The EWC distinguishes itself through its structure. For instance, while most tournaments such as League of Legends Worlds crown one champion in one game, this championship format has more than 24 different titles, with clubs earning points across all of them to determine an overall winner.
