RIYADH — Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman attended the closing ceremony of the 2025 Esports World Cup in Riyadh on Sunday evening. Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah was also in attendance, alongside other distinguished dignitaries.
The Crown Prince presented the championship trophy to Team Falcons, who were crowned the Esports World Cup Champions 2025. Mossad Al-Dossary, Chairman of Team Falcons, received the trophy on behalf of the team. Team Falcons dominated the tournament standings with 5,200 points, winning the grand prize of $7 million out of a record-breaking $70 million prize pool — the largest in Esports history. Over the seven-week tournament, the team secured two championship titles and six Top-3 finishes.
The spectacular closing ceremony attracted a massive audience and global viewership, featuring live performances and the presence of world sports icons, including Cristiano Ronaldo, who celebrated with the winning team and posed with the championship trophy.
Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, and Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, delivered keynote remarks. Reichert praised the Kingdom’s efforts in creating “a unique global Esports experience that combines competition, innovation, and entertainment with worldwide engagement.”
The 2025 edition featured 2,000 professional players, representing 200 clubs from 100 countries, competing in 25 tournaments across the world’s most popular electronic games.
Launched by the Crown Prince in 2023, the Esports World Cup held its first edition in Riyadh in 2024 to great success. The second edition in 2025 set unprecedented organizational and technical benchmarks, further cementing the Kingdom’s global leadership in gaming and Esports.The tournament achieved impressive milestones:53% growth in ticket sales.40% increase in global content demand.64% rise in international sales.Broadcast in 35 languages across 100+ countries.
In total, more than 750 million viewers worldwide tuned in via digital platforms, with over 350 million hours of viewing time recorded. Meanwhile, Boulevard Riyadh City welcomed over 3 million visitors, who enjoyed 1,500+ cultural, community, and entertainment activities, adding to the unique festival atmosphere.
With this historic championship, Riyadh has firmly established itself as the global capital of Esports, showcasing the Kingdom’s vision, innovation, and leadership in the future of competitive gaming.
