RIYADH: Liverpool and Portugal footballer Diogo Jota, who attended the eSports World Cup in Riyadh on Sunday, said the world's biggest gaming festival was “a truly incredible experience”.
Jota, an avid gamer and investor in multinational esports organization Galaxy Racer, followed all the action at Boulevard Riyadh City as teams competed in the finals of the “Dota2 Riyadh Masters” and “Counter-Strike 2” competitions.
The eight-week Esports World Cup features a unique structure, with top clubs and players competing across 22 competitions and 21 marquee matches.
The event, which will be held at the 8,000-capacity Saudi Esports Federation Arena on Boulevard Riyadh City, will run until August 25 and will have a prize pool of $60 million, the largest in the history of the sport.
The 42-capped striker, who played for Portugal at this summer’s UEFA European Championship 2024, met with star players, including Saudi Arabia’s Falcons, and happily swapped stories about gaming and eSports.
Jota said: “Being here at the first Esports World Cup is a truly incredible experience. The organization and scale of this event is truly impressive, even more than I expected.
“I have always believed in the potential of esports, even before I founded my team, and the EWC is proof that this scene is evolving rapidly. This level of investment and infrastructure is exactly what esports needs to grow and reach a wider audience.
“I can't wait to see how EWC continues to evolve and push the boundaries of competitive gaming.”
Jota, who wears the number 20 for Liverpool, was ranked number one in the world on the FIFA 21 Champions Leaderboard. A regular streamer on Twitch, he also won a series of FIFA invitationals, run by the Premier League, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Then a player for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Jota defeated future Liverpool teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold in the final.
Last year, Jota's esports organization, Diogo Jota Esports, rebranded to Luna Galaxy, falling under the Galaxy Racer umbrella.
Previously, Diogo Jota Esports participated in the FIFA Finals and Gamers8, organized by the Saudi Esports Federation, at Boulevard Riyadh City last summer, with Daniel “DFernandes” Fernandes finishing in the top 16.
More than 1,500 players from over 60 nationalities are competing in the inaugural Esports World Cup. The third week of competition features action in the “Dota2 Riyadh Masters,” “Counter Strike 2,” and “PUBG Mobile” competitions.
