The inaugural Esports World Cup (EWC) concluded on Sunday in spectacular fashion. In the presence of HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, the closing ceremony of the high energy two-month esports extravaganza featured electrifying performances by international artists Kid Cudi, Rabeh Saqer, Sevdaliza, and Steve Aoki.
The EWC boasted impressive statistics, hosting 1,500 athletes, 200 clubs, and a record-breaking $60 million prize pool across 22 tournaments and 21 renowned titles. Even football star, Neymar Jr, made a special appearance. The closing ceremony marked the culmination of the largest weekend in esports history, which also hosted the 2024 Esports Awards and 2024 New Global Sport Conference.
Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, reflected on the global celebration of competitive excellence and esports fandom, highlighting the transformative impact of esports and its inclusive nature.
Team Falcons, Saudi Arabia’s hometown heroes, were crowned the first-ever EWC Club Champions, taking home the $7 million first prize and EWC Club Championship trophy.
The EWC achieved remarkable success, attracting 500 million viewers who consumed over 250 million hours of content, solidifying its position as the most-watched esports event of 2024. The event also recorded its highest peak concurrent viewership during the League of Legends competition.
Faisal bin Homran, Chief Product Officer of the EWC Foundation, emphasized the inspiration behind the event, stating that it was designed to fulfill the passion of Saudi Arabia’s youth for gaming and esports, with the aim of developing esports in the region and becoming a global hub for gaming and esports.
Indeed, an exciting segment in the world of gaming and sports, no doubt the community is already looking forward to the next EWC!
