ESL FACEIT Group, an esports company and tournament organizer, has secured a multi-year partnership with the Esports World Cup, a multi-title esports event managed by the Esports World Cup Foundation. Under this agreement, ESL FACEIT Group will serve as the official operating partner, overseeing tournament operations and broadcast programming. The company has already contributed to the event by leveraging its expertise to create a platform that unites top games, players, and clubs.
The Esports World Cup, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, features 22 competitions with a combined prize pool of $60 million (~£47.2 million). ESL FACEIT Group hosted global qualifiers to determine the participating teams and continues to integrate the event's games into ESL and DreamHack competitions, as well as the FACEIT tournament platform. Despite the event's scale and ambition, it has faced criticism due to Saudi Arabia's human rights record and the backing of the Saudi Arabian government, as the Esports World Cup Foundation is supported by the Public Investment Fund (PIF).
This partnership signifies ESL FACEIT Group's ongoing expansion in the Middle East, following the opening of a broadcast hub in Riyadh in June and a five-year deal with Saudi Arabia's Qiddiya City in April. Craig Levine, Co-CEO of ESL FACEIT Group, praised the collaboration, calling the Esports World Cup one of the most ambitious global esports events and highlighting the successful teamwork and deep industry relationships that have driven the project's progress.
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