RIYADH: On Sunday, the third edition of the Esports World Cup came to an end, and its unqualified success in Paris will likely have exceeded the most optimistic expectations the organizers would have had when the tournament was moved from Riyadh earlier this year.
The first two editions of the EWC had been hosted in the Saudi capital to great fanfare, but an uncertain regional geopolitical climate called for a new home in 2026. Paris, only announced as new the host in May, has turned out to be an inspired choice.
The French capital was set the urgent task of ensuring the event moved seamlessly from Riyadh. Since then, Paris has shown just how much the EWC is now a global event, attracting over 2,000 players and 200 clubs from more than 100 nations since it kicked off on July 3.
Action from the tournament has been broadcast to 160 countries across OTT partners, streaming platforms and digital services, with figures expected to hit 7,000 hours of live programming produced throughout the competition.
At heart, however, it remains very much a Saudi-organized event.
