Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Crowns Team Falcons As Champions Of Esports World Cup 2025

His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, attended the Esports World Cup 2025 closing ceremony in Riyadh. During the event, he crowned "Team Falcons" as champions. They led the tournament with 5,200 points, winning a $7 million grand prize from a total pool exceeding $70 million—the largest in esports history.

The tournament's success highlights Saudi Arabia's commitment to gaming and esports. The National Gaming and Esports Strategy, launched by HRH the Crown Prince in 2022, aims to create a globally competitive sector. It supports Saudi Vision 2030 by aiming to generate 39,000 jobs and contribute SAR50 billion to GDP by 2030.

The Esports World Cup attracted global attention with participation from clubs and players worldwide. Over seven weeks, 2,000 professional players from 200 clubs across 100 countries competed in 25 tournaments featuring popular esports titles. The event set records for tournament numbers, prize value, and audience engagement.

CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation Ralf Reichert praised HRH the Crown Prince’s support. He noted that Saudi Arabia created a unique global experience with diverse games, strong competitions, entertainment activities, global attendance, and vast online viewership.

The tournament originated from a Saudi initiative announced by HRH the Crown Prince in 2023. Riyadh hosted its first edition in 2024 successfully, paving the way for the advanced technical and organizational level seen in 2025. This strengthened Saudi Arabia's global position in gaming and esports.

The event recorded significant growth indicators: ticket sales rose by 53%, content demand increased by 40%, and international sales grew by 64%. Competitions were broadcast in 35 languages to over 100 countries, showcasing the scale of organization and participation.

Audience Engagement and Economic Impact

Throughout the tournament, Boulevard Riyadh City welcomed over 3 million visitors. Meanwhile, more than 750 million viewers worldwide followed the competitions through digital platforms. The total watch time exceeded 350 million hours.

The accompanying events featured over 1,500 community, cultural, and entertainment activities. These enriched the experience by adding an interactive dimension to the event.

Riyadh continues to establish itself as a global esports capital with this achievement. It supports sports and entertainment sector development goals while driving digital transformation forward.

With inputs from SPA