Riyadh hosts Esports World Cup featuring $60m prize pool as global professionals compete in 22 competitions across 21 titles.
Bigo Live has announced its collaboration with the Esports World Cup (EWC) to host gaming tournaments in Saudi Arabia. This partnership, effective until July 28, 2024, underscores Bigo Live’s dedication to enriching gaming experiences for the Arabic-speaking community across the Middle East and North Africa.
The Esports World Cup, which runs until August 24, 2024, at Boulevard City in Riyadh, is anticipated to be the largest global esports and gaming festival. Over the eight-week period, gaming enthusiasts will have the chance to engage in immersive gaming activities, meet top esports teams and content creators, and interact with game publishers.
A significant aspect of Bigo Live’s collaboration with EWC is the extensive coverage of three major tournaments: Free Fire, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and PUBG Mobile. This will offer fans an immersive experience, allowing them to engage deeply with the competitive gaming action.
Free Fire- the group stage matches will be livestreamed from July 10-12, with finals on July 13-14.
Bang Bang: The Mid-Season Cup will run from July 3-14, and the Women’s Invitational from July 24-27.
PUBG Mobile – the Group stages are set for July 19-21, the Survival Stage on July 23-24, and Main Stage from July 26-28.
Bigo Live’s mobile platform will feature immersive Arabic-language commentary for all streamed matches. This integration aims to enhance accessibility and engagement for Arabic-speaking users, enabling seamless participation in the tournaments and fostering a vibrant gaming community. This strategic initiative aligns with audience preferences and strengthens the platform’s connection with gaming fans in the region, providing mutual benefits for both Bigo Live and Esports World Cup.
“We are excited to collaborate with Esports World Cup to bring the electrifying world of esports to our community in the Middle East,” said a spokesperson from Bigo Live. “This partnership underscores our commitment to amplifying the excitement of gaming and celebrating the incredible talent within our Arab audience. With mobile esports rapidly gaining momentum in the Middle East —fueled by Saudi Arabia’s high mobile penetration and milestones like over 530m hours viewed in games such as Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, we take pride in integrating it into Bigo Live’s platform. By delivering exhilarating tournaments with immersive Arabic-language commentary, we aim to deepen our connection with gaming enthusiasts across the region and showcase their passion on a global stage.”
The collaboration also highlights Bigo Live’s dedication to supporting the thriving esports and gaming culture in the Middle East, a region poised for substantial growth in the gaming sector. With Saudi Arabia leading the charge, home to 85% of gaming enthusiasts in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and with the esports market expected to grow from $1bn in 2021 to $6.8bn by 2030, this partnership with the Esports World Cup solidifies Bigo Live’s role as a key platform for esports enthusiasts. By amplifying the visibility of EWC events, Bigo Live not only elevates competitive gaming but also champions Saudi Arabia’s ambitious National Gaming and Esports Strategy, which aims to boost GDP and create thousands of new jobs by 2030.