If you ever needed tangible evidence of the overwhelmingly successful growth experienced in the eSports market, then the recent event played out in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, would have to go some way to illustrate that fact as clearly as possible to even the most hardened cynics.
The 2023 Global Esports Games was held in Riyadh and proved a massive success. Two hundred thirty-six players representing fifty-six countries took part. The popularity of eSports is also evidenced by the fact that many leading sportsbooks are not accepting betting on the key events, and with that in mind, those who want to wager in this market can make the most of doing so with this Caesars Casino promo code, which would make any potential win all the sweeter.
Saudi Arabia has made a big push to become the world’s gaming capital and has spent around $8 billion on the market. Gaming is hugely successful in the country, with 70% of the country’s population under 35 seeing themselves as gamers.
The competition ended on the 16th of December and saw Malaysia take the Dota 2 Women’s title, Jordan winning the eFootball 2024, and Kazakhstan taking the Dota 2 Open. A wide global audience watched on, and thousands gathered in person to see the events unfold. The event was undoubtedly a supreme success, and Saudi Esports Federation CEO Turki Al-Fawzan commented on the exciting climax of the event,
“The games have been fantastic from start to finish, and I’m sure esports fans near and far are beyond satisfied with how the tournament went out on a high. With three finals scheduled for Saturday, the stage was set for some of the world’s best teams and athletes to showcase why esports is now the most popular sport worldwide. I believe they achieved precisely that and on behalf of the Saudi Esports Federation, I’d like to congratulate the winners and runners-up on their accomplishments this week. They’ve been a credit to themselves, their countries, and the entire esports community as always. Well done to all.”
The breadth of talent vying for top prizes at the Global Esports Game is refreshing, to say the least, and it is something that the president of the Global Esports Federation, Chris Chan, touched upon in quotes leading up to the event,
“The Global Esports Games is a powerful platform where nations come together in the digital arena, showcasing world-class competition and exemplifying the power of unity through esports. The Games show that now more than ever, esports transcends borders and cultures, and we’re thrilled to see so many teams and athletes from different countries and continents competing,”
The first edition of the Global Esports Games took place in Singapore in 2021, with Istanbul hosting the following year. 2024 will see the games move to China, followed by Dubai, and in 2026, the baton will be passed to the United States.
