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ESL FACEIT Group, a leading esports company and tournament organizer, has announced a significant multi-year partnership with the Esports World Cup, an extensive multi-title esports event organized by the Esports World Cup Foundation. Under this new agreement, ESL FACEIT Group will serve as the official operating partner for the prestigious event.
As the operating partner, ESL FACEIT Group will manage tournament operations and broadcast programming for the Esports World Cup. The company has been involved with the event throughout this year, contributing its expertise to create a platform that showcases the world’s top games, players, and teams.
The Esports World Cup, currently taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is a high-profile event featuring 22 competitions and a total prize pool of $60 million (~£47.2 million). ESL FACEIT Group has been instrumental in hosting global qualifiers to select the teams for various titles and is also integrating these games into ESL and DreamHack competitions, as well as the FACEIT tournament platform.
The ongoing Esports World Cup, which runs until August 25th, represents a major addition to the global esports calendar. However, the event has faced criticism from some in the esports community due to Saudi Arabia’s human rights record. The event’s organizer, the Esports World Cup Foundation, is backed by the Saudi Arabian government, and ESL FACEIT Group’s parent company, Savvy Games Group, was established by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
For ESL FACEIT Group, this partnership marks a continuation of its expansion in the Middle East. The company recently opened a broadcast hub in Riyadh in June and secured a five-year deal with Saudi Arabian entertainment project Qiddiya City in April.
Craig Levine, Co-CEO of ESL FACEIT Group, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “The Esports World Cup is one of the most ambitious new global esports 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 unrivaled understanding of how gamers celebrate esports.”
This partnership highlights ESL FACEIT Group’s commitment to advancing the esports industry on a global scale and its growing influence in the Middle East.