| 2024 Esports World Cup | |
| Sport: | Esports |
| Location: | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| Start Date: | July 3 |
| End Date: | August 25 |
| Administrator: | Esports World Cup Foundation Tournaments supervised by ESL |
| Events: | 23 in 22 esports |
| Purse: | $62.5 million |
The 2024 Esports World Cup (EWC) is the first edition of the Esports World Cup, an annual international esports tournament series replacing the Gamers8 festival, run by the Esports World Cup Foundation, funded by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. The event will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 3 to August 25, 2024, and will feature 23 events in 22 different video game titles. It will have the largest combined prize pool in esports history at over, encompassing individual tournament prize pools, rewards for teams that qualify to EWC events, most valuable player awards, and the Club Championship, a cross-game competition that aggregates the individual game results of all participating organizations (known as "clubs" to the EWC) to crown a Club Champion.
The Esports World Cup has been criticized by some as being used as a sportswashing tool by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to distract the esports community from its numerous human rights violations. Commentators have drawn attention to the country's stance on LGBTQ+ rights, women's rights, and its handling of dissent.
In October 2023, Saudi Arabia announced the inaugural Esports World Cup as the successor of Gamers8, the Saudi Esports Federation's previously existing esports festival, set to take place in Riyadh.[1] The event was developed as a part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, a plan led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman aimed at diversifying the country's economy and reducing reliance on oil.[2]
The initial five game titles were announced on February 20, 2024, with additional events being added over the course of the next four months; the final initial titles, the 20th being Call of Duty: Warzone and the 21st being Modern Warfare III, were added on June 12.[3] [4] Strinova was added as an additional title on August 1, 2024. The events will take place in a 645000sqfoot venue in Riyadh's Boulevard City that features four separate esports arenas: the Qiddiya Arena, the 5V5 Arena (known as the Amazon Arena for sponsorship purposes), the BR Arena (known as the stc Arena for sponsorship purposes) and the Riyadh Festival. The stc Play Gaming Hall, also in Boulevard City, hosted last chance qualifiers for some games as well as the Strinova tournament.[5]
The Esports World Cup will encompass 23 tournaments across its 22 competitive titles. Each tournament will adhere to its own unique format and rules, with 22 of the tournaments contributing to a larger competition known as the Club Championship.
The Club Championship is a cross-game competition within the Esports World Cup. The championship will distribute a total of US$20 million among the top 16 clubs (used by the EWC in place of "organization"), determined by their overall performance in various games throughout the tournament. To qualify for the Club Championship, a club must finish in the top 8 in at least two competitions, and to win the championship title, the club must secure first place in at least one competition. Only participants who are publicly announced as part of their respective organization before June 14, 2024 for most games, or June 28, 2024 for the Call of Duty games, are eligible to earn points for their club. Below is a breakdown of the points awarded based on placement in the individual game championships:[6]
| Points | Points | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1000 | 5 | 110 | |
| 2 | 600 | 6 | 70 | |
| 3 | 350 | 7 | 40 | |
| 4 | 200 | 8 | 20 |
The Esports World Cup Foundation's Club Support Program is an initiative designed to provide substantial financial assistance to selected esports organizations. Through this program, chosen teams receive annual financial support to enhance their operations and create more opportunities for professional players. A total of 30 esports organizations, 22 of which were invited and 8 were admitted out of over 150 applicants based on past competitive achievements, future strategies, and approaches to fan engagement, were selected to the Club Support Program. As with all other competitors in the EWC, members of the Club Support Program must earn qualification for each game's event and the Club Championship, but they will remain eligible for annual financial rewards irrespective of their qualification status, as well as a one-time payment if an organization wants to enter new esports, particularly those who have a presence at the Esports World Cup. The rewards are contingent upon each member's capacity to enhance viewership and fan engagement for the EWC.[7]
The 30 teams represent the five major competitive regions — Europe, North America, Asia, South America, and the Middle East — with the majority of the teams being primarily based in Europe or North America.
| ● | Competitions days |
| July/August 2024 | July | August | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Apex Legends< | -- 3 --> | ●< | -- 1 --> | ●< | -- 2 --> | ●< | -- 3 --> | ●< | -- 4 --> | ●< | -- 5 --> | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III< | -- 3 --> | ●< | -- 16 --> | ●< | -- 17 --> | ●< | -- 18 --> | ●< | -- 19 --> | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Call of Duty: Warzone< | -- 3 --> | ●< | -- 4 --> | ●< | -- 5 --> | ●< | -- 6 --> | ●< | -- 7 --> | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Counter-Strike 2< | -- 3 --> | ●< | -- 18 --> | ●< | -- 19 --> | ●< | -- 20 --> | ●< | -- 21 --> | ●< | -- 22 --> | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dota 2< | -- 3 --> | ●< | -- 5 --> | ●< | -- 6 --> | ●< | -- 7 --> | ●< | -- 8 --> | ●< | -- 11 --> | ●< | -- 12 --> | ●< | -- 13 --> | ●< | -- 14 --> | ●< | -- 15 --> | ●< | -- 17 --> | ●< | -- 18 --> | ●< | -- 19 --> | ●< | -- 20 --> | ●< | -- 21 --> | ●< | -- 22 --> | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| EA Sports FC 24< | -- 3 --> | ●< | -- 16 --> | ●< | -- 17 --> | ●< | -- 18 --> | ●< | -- 19 --> | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fortnite< | -- 3 --> | ●< | -- 9 --> | ●< | -- 10 --> | ●< | -- 11 --> | ●< | -- 12 --> | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Garena Free Fire< | -- 3 --> | ●< | -- 11 --> | ●< | -- 12 --> | ●< | -- 13 --> | ●< | -- 14 --> | ●< | -- 15 --> | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Honor of Kings< | -- 3 --> | ●< | -- 2 --> | ●< | -- 3 --> | ●< | -- 4 --> | ●< | -- 5 --> | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MobileLegends: BangBang | Men's< | -- 3 --> | ●< | -- 4 --> | ●< | -- 5 --> | ●< | -- 6 --> | ●< | -- 7 --> | ●< | -- 8 --> | ●< | -- 11 --> | ●< | -- 12 --> | ●< | -- 13 --> | ●< | -- 14 --> | ●< | -- 15 --> | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Women's< | -- 3 --> | ●< | -- 26 --> | ●< | -- 27 --> | ●< | -- 28 --> | ●< | -- 29 --> | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League of Legends< | -- 3 --> | ●< | -- 5 --> | ●< | -- 6 --> | ●< | -- 7 --> | ●< | -- 8 --> | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overwatch 2< | -- 3 --> | ●< | -- 25 --> | ●< | -- 26 --> | ●< | -- 27 --> | ●< | -- 28 --> | ●< | -- 29 --> | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PUBG: Battlegrounds< | -- 3 --> | ●< | -- 22 --> | ●< | -- 23 --> | ●< | -- 24 --> | ●< | -- 25 --> | ● | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PUBG Mobile< | -- 3 --> | ●< | -- 20 --> | ●< | -- 21 --> | ●< | -- 22 --> | ●< | -- 24 --> | ●< | -- 25 --> | ●< | -- 27 --> | ●< | -- 28 --> | ●< | -- 29 --> | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rainbow Six Siege< | -- 3 --> | ●< | -- 1 --> | ●< | -- 2 --> | ●< | -- 3 --> | ●< | -- 4 --> | ●< | -- 5 --> | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rennsport< | -- 3 --> | ●< | -- 23 --> | ●< | -- 24 --> | ●< | -- 25 --> | ● | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rocket League< | -- 3 --> | ●< | -- 23 --> | ●< | -- 24 --> | ●< | -- 25 --> | ● | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| StarCraft II< | -- 3 --> | ●< | -- 15 --> | ●< | -- 16 --> | ●< | -- 17 --> | ●< | -- 18 --> | ●< | -- 19 --> | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Street Fighter 6< | -- 3 --> | ●< | -- 9 --> | ●< | -- 10 --> | ●< | -- 11 --> | ●< | -- 12 --> | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Strinova< | -- 3 --> | ●< | -- 6 --> | ●< | -- 7 --> | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Teamfight Tactics< | -- 3 --> | ●< | -- 9 --> | ●< | -- 10 --> | ●< | -- 11 --> | ●< | -- 12 --> | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tekken 8< | -- 3 --> | ●< | -- 22 --> | ●< | -- 23 --> | ●< | -- 24 --> | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apex Legends | Alliance Effect Hakis unlucky | Team Falcons Genburten ImperialHal Zer0 | Luminosity Gaming Fuhhnq Sikezz sweetdreams | |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III | Atlanta FaZe aBeZy Cellium Drazah Simp | 100 Thieves Ghosty JoeDecieves Kremp Nastie | OpTic Gaming Dashy Kenny Pred Shotzzy | |
| Vancouver Surge 04 Abuzah Breszy Huke | ||||
| Call of Duty: Warzone | Team Falcons Biffle Shifty Soka | Fnatic Almond Newbz Skullface | Twisted Minds Aydan Knight zSmit | |
| Counter-Strike 2 | Natus Vincere Aleksib b1t iM jL w0nderful | G2 Esports huNter- NiKo malbsMd m0NESY Snax | Virtus.pro electroNic fame FL1T Jame n0rb3r7 | |
| MOUZ Brollan Jimpphat siuhy torzsi xertioN | ||||
| Dota 2 | Gaimin Gladiators Ace dyrachyo Quinn Seleri tOfu | Team Liquid 33 Boxi Insania miCKe Nisha | Team Falcons ATF Cr1t- Malr1ne skiter Sneyking | |
| EA Sports FC 24 | jafonso (Luna Galaxy) | Young (Tuzzy E-Sports) | PHzin (Al-Ula FC) | |
| AbuMakkah (Team Falcons) | ||||
| Fortnite | XSET Cold Edgey Muz Ritual | Exceed Kwanti Meelks Okis Peterbot | Heroic Fredoxie Hellfire Kiro Th0masHD | |
| Karmine Corp Anas Malibuca Merstach SwizzY | ||||
| Garena Free Fire | Team Falcons COUGAR COZQ ONEMORE ONFIRE PETER | EVOS Divine AbaaaX AimGOD Bara Geday Reyyy | Netshoes Miners General NANDO9 Proxx7 Raone7 | |
| Honor of Kings | KPL Dream Team Cat (All Gamers) Chance (Douyu Gaming) Fly (Rogue Warriors) Fox (LGD NBW) Hai (EStar Pro) NoFear (JD Gaming) Pang (Wolves) Qing (Talent Gaming) Rong (EStar Pro) Yinuo (All Gamers) | LGD Gaming MY Jimmy JR Muskang King Siang Zhe Zhihong | Keyd Stars 0ne Dani Maynah Niap Supinão ySacer | |
| All Gamers Global Lived Myosotis Qinglin SNOW Zaiz | ||||
| – Men | Selangor Red Giants Innocent Kramm Sekys Stormie YumS | Falcons AP Bren FlapTzy KyleTzy Owgwen Pheww Super Marco | Liquid ECHO Bennyqt Jaypee KarlTzy Sanford Sanji | |
| NIP Flash Diablo Hades JPL KurtTzy Vanix | ||||
| – Women | Omega Empress Amoree Ayanami Keishi Meraaay Shinoa | Team Vitality Chell Cinny Fumi Vival Vivian | Team Falcons Vega Chincaaw Funi Meylane Thall Violet | |
| Victory Song Gamers Gayleee Kioway Minun Riyaan Syncro | ||||
| League of Legends | T1 Zeus Oner Faker Gumayusi Keria | Top Esports 369 Tian Creme JackeyLove Meiko | Team Liquid Impact UmTi APA Yeon CoreJJ | |
| G2 Esports BrokenBlade Yike Caps Hans Sama Mikyx | ||||
| Overwatch 2 | Crazy Raccoon CH0R0NG HeeSang Junbin LIP MAX Shu | Toronto Ultra MER1T Rupal SOMEONE Sugarfree Vega | Team Falcons ChiYo Fielder Hanbin Proper SirMajed smurf Stalk3r | |
| ZETA DIVISION AlphaYi BERNAR Fearless FINN Flora Viol2t | ||||
| PUBG Mobile | Alpha7 Esports Carrilho Mafioso Magrelin Revo | Reject Devine Duelo Reiji SaRa | Tianba GGBond Long Lyu Qzzz | |
| Rainbow Six Siege | Team BDS BriD LikEfac Shaiiko Solotov Yuzus | w7m esports d4sh Dodez Dotz L0BIN volpz | Team Liquid Lagonis Maia Nesk Paluh resetz | |
| Furia Esports FelipoX HerdsZ Jv92 Kheyze nade | ||||
| Rennsport | ||||
| Rocket League | ||||
| StarCraft II | Clem (Team Liquid) | Serral (BASILISK) | Dark (Talon Esports) | |
| herO (Weibo Gaming) | ||||
| Street Fighter 6 | Xiao Hai (KuaiShow Gaming) | Kawano (Good 8 Squad) | Tachikawa (Burning Core Toyama) | |
| gachikun (Good 8 Squad) | ||||
| Strinova | MMR Fan ON Rite Xiaowu yzii | Super Shuai BriBri BTMC Kariyu lyr1c Tuonto | Nova Guardians kept Masuo SKJsa2 SKJShinka SoVault | |
| Twisted Minds ExiT Fr4nky Gwzh Saint Zimo | ||||
| Teamfight Tactics | Wolves Esports LiShao Serein Sheltie YGQF | T1 Binteum Bobae dunizuni sCsC | Team Vitality K3soju MilkK Setsuko torontotokyo | |
| Twisted Minds 60second Huanmie RiYue Snowy | ||||
| Tekken 8 |
| Key | |
|---|---|
| Colour | Result |
| Gold | Winner |
| Silver | Second place |
| Bronze | Third place or equivalent |
| Green | Other points position |
| Blue | Other classified position |
| Red | Did not qualify (DNQ) |
| White | Did not enter (DNE) |
| Team | CWZ | LOL | FF | MSC | CS2 | DOTA2 | MWI | OW2 | PUBGM | APEX | HOK | R6 | FN | SF6 | TFT | MW3 | EAFC | SC2 | REN | RL | PUBGB | T8 | Points | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Team Falcons | 1 | DNE | 1 | 2 | DNQ | 3 | 3–4 | 3–4 | 17 | 2 | 11–12 | DNQ | 5–8 | 17–24 | 9–12 | 12–16 | 3–4 | DNQ | 4435 | |||||
| 2 | Team Liquid | DNE | 3–4 | DNE | 3–4 | DNQ | 2 | DNE | DNE | 8 | 7 | DNE | 3–4 | DNQ | 17–24 | DNQ | DNE | 5–8 | 1 | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNQ | 2545 | |
| 3 | T1 | DNE | 1 | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNQ | DNE | 2 | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | 17–24 | 1600 | ||
| 4 | Gaimin Gladiators | 21 | DNE | 8 | DNQ | DNQ | 1 | 9–12 | DNQ | 4 | DNE | DNE | 5–8 | DNQ | DNE | DNE | DNQ | 12–18 | DNE | DNQ | 1280 | ||||
| 5 | Natus Vincere | 5 | DNE | DNE | DNE | 1 | DNQ | DNE | DNE | DNQ | 30 | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | 5–8 | DNE | DNE | 12–18 | DNE | DNE | 17–24 | 1170 | ||
| 6 | FaZe Clan | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | 5–8 | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNQ | 13 | DNE | 5–8 | DNE | DNE | DNE | 1 | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNQ | 1120 | |||
| 7 | Team Vitality | 9 | DNQ | DNE | DNE | 5–8 | DNE | 2 | DNE | DNE | DNE | 11–12 | DNE | DNE | DNQ | 3–4 | DNE | DNQ | 6–7 | DNE | 990 | ||||
| 8 | G2 Esports | DNE | 3–4 | DNE | DNE | 2 | 19–20 | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNQ | DNE | DNE | DNE | 12–16 | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | 875 | |||
| 9 | Toronto Ultra | DNE | DNQ | DNE | DNE | DNQ | DNE | DNE | 2 | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | 5–8 | 5–8 | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | 720 | |
| 10 | Twisted Minds | 3 | DNQ | 11 | 9–16 | DNQ | DNE | DNQ | 5–8 | 13 | 8 | DNQ | DNQ | DNE | 9–12 | 3–4 | DNE | DNQ | 8–11 | DNE | 710 | ||||
| 11 | Fnatic | 2 | 5–8 | DNE | 9–16 | DNQ | DNE | DNE | 9–12 | DNE | 18 | DNE | DNQ | 13–16 | 13–16 | 13–16 | DNE | 15–16 | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | 660 | ||
| 12 | All Gamers | 18 | DNQ | 5 | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNQ | DNE | 3–4 | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | 12–18 | DNE | DNE | DNE | 385 | ||
| 13 | Talon Esports | DNE | DNQ | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNQ | DNE | DNE | 6 | DNE | DNQ | 13–16 | DNE | DNQ | DNE | DNE | DNE | 3–4 | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNQ | 345 | |
| 14 | Furia Esports | DNE | DNQ | DNE | DNE | 5–8 | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNQ | DNQ | DNE | 3–4 | DNE | 13–16 | DNE | DNE | 11–12 | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | 335 | ||
| 14 | Virtus.pro | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | 3–4 | 17–18 | DNE | 5–8 | DNQ | 24 | DNQ | DNQ | DNE | 17–24 | DNE | DNE | DNQ | 12–18 | DNE | DNE | 335 | |||
| 16 | Weibo Gaming | DNE | DNQ | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNQ | 38 | 5–8 | DNE | DNE | DNQ | 5–8 | DNE | DNE | 3–4 | DNE | DNE | DNQ | DNE | 295 | |
| 17 | Cloud9 | 20 | DNQ | DNE | 9–16 | DNQ | DNE | 5–8 | DNE | DNE | DNQ | DNE | DNQ | DNE | 17–24 | DNE | 5–8 | 5–8 | 8–11 | DNE | DNQ | DNE | DNQ | 185 | |
| 18 | Spacestation Gaming | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | 5–8 | DNE | 17 | DNE | 5–8 | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNQ | DNE | 120 | ||
| 19 | Team Spirit | DNE | DNE | DNE | 9–16 | 5–8 | 7–8 | DNE | DNE | 27 | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | DNE | 90 | |
| Team | CWZ | LOL | FF | MSC | CS2 | DOTA2 | MWI | OW2 | PUBGM | APEX | HOK | R6 | FN | SF6 | TFT | MW3 | EAFC | SC2 | REN | RL | PUBGB | T8 | Points | ||
| Source: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Championship Notes:
Club Notes:
The 2024 Esports World Cup will have a prize pool of, the largest combined prize pool in esports history. The prize money will be broken down into four categories: Club Championship, Game Championships, Qualifiers, and MVP Awards. The Club Championship will award $20million to the top 16 teams based on their overall performance, while each of the 20 Game Championships will have a combined prize pool of $33.8million. Teams will compete for more than $7million during qualifying events, and the MVP of each event will be awarded $50,000.[8]
| Category | Prize | |
|---|---|---|
| Club Championship | $20,000,000 | |
| Game Championships | $33,800,000 | |
| Qualifiers | $7,600,000 | |
| MVP Awards | $1,100,000 |
| Team | Prize | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Team Falcons | $7,000,000 |
| 2 | $4,000,000 | |
| 3 | $2,000,000 | |
| 4 | $1,500,000 | |
| 5 | $1,000,000 | |
| 6 | $800,000 | |
| 7 | $600,000 | |
| 8 | $450,000 | |
| 9 | $350,000 | |
| 10 | $250,000 | |
| 12 | $200,000 | |
| 13–16 | $150,000 | |
The announcement of the 2024 Esports World Cup was met with a mixed response due to concerns over Saudi Arabia's human rights record and the tournament's use for sportswashing.[9] Saudi Arabia's significant investment in the esports scene, amounting to billions of dollars, has led to a rapid expansion of the industry within the country. However, these developments have occurred against a backdrop of ongoing international scrutiny regarding Saudi Arabia's human rights record, particularly concerning LGBTQ+ rights, women's rights, and its handling of dissent.[10] In June 2024, Team Liquid announced their intention to wear a Pride-inspired jersey at the Esports World Cup and were permitted to do so.[11]
In March 2024, esports organization Ex Oblivione announced their decision not to participate in the Overwatch 2 competition at the 2024 Esports World Cup. The team expressed concerns about the lack of necessary accessibility for all members of their community and the potential exclusion of their fans from participating in the event alongside them. This decision received a mixed response from their followers and the community, with many expressing support for their stance while others criticized the organization.[12]
In June 2024, the Esports Awards announced that they would hold a ceremony at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh in late August. The announcement was met with criticism from multiple esports personalities. Additionally, multiple stakeholders and personnel, including esports hosts Caleb Simmons and Alex "Goldenboy" Mendez, resigned from the Esports Awards panel.[13] [14]