Source: REUTERS/Stringer
[Saba Sports News] The first eSports World Cup was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from July 3 to August 25 this year. Over the past eight weeks, the event attracted around 1,500 professional players with a total prize pool exceeding $60 million—making it one of the largest events in eSports history. Notably, Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo also made an appearance at the closing ceremony; his presence ignited excitement among attendees. Ronaldo’s appearance was due to his current involvement with Al Nassr in the Saudi league and his deep cooperative relationship with Saudi Arabia. The country places great importance on sports events, including eSports competitions; hosting large-scale events like the eSports World Cup allows Ronaldo—an influential figure in Saudi sports—to enhance the event’s visibility and impact while reflecting his close ties with Saudi sports development.