(MENAFN-worldcupfoundation) Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, August 15, 2024: The Esports World Cup closing ceremony in Riyadh will welcome a host of international stars who will help bring down the curtain on the biggest gaming and esports festival ever.
From August 20-25, all eyes will be on the Kingdom’s capital as we join Kid Cudi, Sevdaliza and Steve Aoki in a closing ceremony to celebrate the Club Champions and honor a historic eight-week run that has captured the imagination of gamers around the world.
Partygoers at The Venue, the new state-of-the-art complex in the Boulevard Riyadh City area, can look forward to a party atmosphere with live music, fireworks, immersive cutting-edge technology and a performance by the Esports World Cup Club Champions.
The Esports World Cup, which began on July 3, featured 22 tournaments with 21 titles, with the industry prize pool reaching an industry record of $60 million.
His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, said: “The Esports World Cup has placed Saudi Arabia at the centre of the sports and entertainment world and set a new benchmark for excellence. It has united and excited millions of people around the world, transcended traditional sporting boundaries and showcased the potential of live gaming arenas to capture the hearts and minds of fans worldwide.
“Record-breaking viewership and participation numbers underline the transformative impact – not only for esports, but also for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Esports World Cup is a milestone in the goals of Saudi Arabia’s National Gaming and Esports Strategy, launched two years ago. Our country’s ambitions to become a global hub for gaming and esports by 2030 have come ever closer with the success of the Esports World Cup.”
During the closing ceremony, representatives from the Esports World Cup Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports the development and growth of the esports and gaming sectors in Saudi Arabia, will officially crown the first Esports World Cup Club Champion.
The winner of the EWC Club Championship – a unique and innovative cross-game competition format that rewards overall event performance – will receive $7 million in life-changing prize money and the prestigious EWC Club Championship trophy, which will be unveiled for the first time during the Opening Ceremony. At the Closing Ceremony, the winning Club CEO will present the EWC Club Championship trophy to players on stage.
Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, said: “The Esports World Cup has exceeded expectations and taken the esports industry to new heights by driving growth across the ecosystem. I am immensely proud that we have created new opportunities for our sport. As a lifelong gamer, it has been a privilege to see the best players as part of elite esports clubs in the best games in the world compete for life-changing prizes and the right to be crowned the first Esports World Cup Club Champion. The closing ceremony will be a celebration of these achievements, an important moment not only for esports, but for the entire gaming industry. This event has brought together different parts of the gaming world and created a strong sense of teamwork and success that will inspire the future of the industry.”
The closing ceremony caps off an outstanding final week of the Esports World Cup full of exciting esports competitions and industry showcases. Here are the highlights from the coming week:
• August 24: The Esports Awards 2024, the most prestigious night in esports, will honor the best esports athletes from all corners of the globe and celebrate clubs, athletes, content creators, games and more. Highlights of the evening include the Lifetime Achievement Mixer, Red Carpet Event, Esports Village and the star-studded awards ceremony itself, which attracted over 22 million viewers last year.
• August 25: Kid Cudi, Sevdaliza and Steve Aoki will perform at the closing ceremony. Two-time Grammy winner Kid Cudi has a passionate global fan base and is deeply connected to gaming. His music has been regularly featured on video game soundtracks since 2008. Sevdaliza pushes the boundaries of sound to create a unique style that is all her own, blending elements of alternative pop, indie, trip hop, R&B and avant-garde music. With nearly four billion streams and over 13 million monthly listeners on Spotify, Steve Aoki is a global music sensation with deep roots in the gaming world.
• August 24-25: The second edition of the two-day New Global Sport Conference (NGSC) brings together leading figures from esports, gaming, business, sports and entertainment to explore “The Future of Fandom”. Thought leaders from around the world will discuss the impact of fandom on business planning, content, IP and media rights, marketing and community building. Speakers include: His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan; Ralf Reichert; Magnus Carlsen, World Chess Champion; Toshimoto Mitomo, Executive Deputy President and CSO, Sony; Lisa Hanson, CEO, Niko Partners; Andrew Chen, General Partner, Andreessen Horowitz; Dr. Songyee Yoon, Managing Partner, Principal Venture Partners; and Sir Leonard Blavatnik, Founder, Access Industries.
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