The Esports Awards and the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) have announced a three-year partnership that brings one of the world’s most prestigious esports awards ceremony and platform to the Esports World Cup, a world-leading gaming festival to take place this summer in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The 2024 Esports Awards will be held on August 24 in Riyadh as a dynamic gala that honours the best in esports from every corner of the globe, celebrating clubs, athletes, content creators, games and more.

The partnership ensures that the Esports Awards will deliver on a grander scale than ever before, with elevated experiences at the Lifetime Achievement mixer, Red Carpet Event, Esports Village and the awards ceremony itself. Fans can vote on awards finalists when they are revealed on June 27.

Since its inception in 2015, the Esports Awards has earned a reputation for recognising excellence in esports globally and supporting initiatives to grow the industry. Over the past decade, it has evolved from a London dinner event into the premier global awarding body and de-facto platform for esports recognition.

The global redcarpet event has hosted unforgettable events in London, Dallas, and Las Vegas and now comes to Saudi Arabia for the first time. Last year’s star-studded ceremony attracted over 22 million viewers and saw some of the biggest brands, athletes and publishers take home 30 awards across entertainment, industry, creative, pro, on-air talent and collegiate categories.

The event also secured a Guinness World Record for largest digital video game display when WWE superstars and gaming legends alike played Pac-Man on a 100,000 sqft screen.

"Partnering with the Esports World Cup enables us to offer an even more exceptional experience to our nominees, guests and viewers," said Michael Ashford, CEO, Esports Awards.

"The Esports Awards have always been dedicated to celebrating incredible achievements in esports, so we naturally saw the opportunity to join forces with EWC in Riyadh as an excellent fit.

“The Middle East is home to one of the fastest growing and most passionate esports communities in the world and I’m delighted to be bringing the awards to the region for the first time. I cannot wait for this year’s ceremony, which I expect will be the most impressive and memorable one yet."

Ralf Reichert, CEO Esports World Cup Foundation, said: “Hosting the Esports Awards in Riyadh enriches the Esports World Cup, bringing the entire world together to commemorate esports excellence.

“Here, we can support the Esports Awards as a valuable bridge between Eastern and Western audiences.

“The Esports Awards is a fantastic gala that celebrates stakeholders from across the global esports ecosystem, recognising not only competitive greatness but also greatness in production, broadcasting, leadership, creative design and more. I’m excited to attend the Esports Awards this year in Riyadh and honour the best in esports.”

Beginning July 3, the Esports World Cup will transform Riyadh into the epicentre of esports fandom and gaming culture.

Located in Boulevard City, fans can watch their favourite athletes and clubs compete across 20 game championships for a share of more than $60 million in life-changing prize money — the largest prize pool in esports history.

Across eight weeks, the Esports World Cup will also feature festival activities that include numerous gaming activations, community tournaments, pop culture celebrations, international experiences, and more. – TradeArabia News Service