ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), an esports and video game entertainment company, has been named the official operating partner of the Esports World Cup.
Under the multi-year deal, EFG will handle tournament operations and broadcast programming, uniting gaming fans with mainstream sports and entertainment for a global celebration of competitive gaming. EFG also collaborates closely with the Esports World Cup on product development and global marketing strategies.
Running from 3 July to 25 August, the Esports World Cup has turned Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, into the heart of esports and gaming culture, allowing fans to watch top players and teams compete in 22 championships, all leading to the crowning of the first-ever Club Champion.
The competition has also caught the attention of the esports ecosystem due to its $60m prize pot – the largest in esports history.
Craig Levine, Co-CEO of EFG, commented: “Esports World Cup is one of the most ambitious new global sports events to ever take place. It’s a historic step forward for esports’ global growth, and the results so far are a testament to the collaboration of both teams, our deep-rooted relationships with industry stakeholders and our unrivalled understanding of how gamers celebrate esports.
“As we approach the end of this life-changing tournament, we’re already looking forward to continuing to shape the future of sports fandom and entertainment powered by esports and gaming – not just through the end of August, but for years to come.”
EFG, with its extensive experience in the field, hosted global qualifiers earlier this year across regions like North and South America, Europe, Southeast Asia and the Middle East to identify the top players now competing on the Esports World Cup stage.
Moving forward, EFG plans to integrate Esports World Cup titles into its ESL, DreamHack and FACEIT platforms, offering aspiring champions worldwide a chance to rise through the ranks and qualify for the biggest competition in the scene.
Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, said: “The Esports World Cup is delivering premier competition at a scale never seen before, giving 3.4 billion gaming fans around the globe a true spectacle, providing players with life-changing prize money and crowning the first Club Champion.
“EFG’s operational excellence and industry-leading experience have been invaluable as we execute this world-first event, and we’re excited to lean on our multi-year partnership as we look to expand Esports World Cup programming and accelerate the industry’s growth.”
Due to this being the first edition of the competition, there have been a lot of partnerships and developments announced during the tournament such as this one.
Earlier this month, the organisers launched an app that lets fans view live scores and stream ongoing events in Saudi Arabia, aiming to boost engagement and provide an excellent experience for both attendees and remote viewers.
