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Why Saudi Arabia Is Betting Big on Esports
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Why Saudi Arabia Is Betting Big on Esports

TIME·Charlie Campbell·about 1 month ago
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On July 6, some 2,000 of the world’s top gamers will descend on the Saudi capital Riyadh for the third annual Esports World Cup, where they will lock horns at 24 different video games—including TEKKEN, Call of Duty, and League of Legends—in pursuit of $75 million in prize money. At least, that is still the hope of tournament organizer Ralf Reichert, who’s determined to forge ahead with the event despite the turmoil wrought by the Iran war, which has already forced a slew of high-profile postponements and cancellations across the Kingdom. “It's definitely made our lives harder,” Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, tells TIME. “People obviously are more hesitant to book their travel. Though we’ve seen ticket sales pick up since the ceasefire.” It’s no secret that the Iran war has dented Saudi Arabia’s sporting juggernaut, which under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has plowed upwards of $1 trillion on sports and sports-related projects.…

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