The International Esports Federation (IESF) has announced the Hilton Riyadh Hotel & Residences as the official main partner for the upcoming World Esports Championship 2024.
The tournament, which is set to start on November 11th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will see more than 480 athletes and teams become guests at the hospitality infrastructure while at the event. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
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Running annually since 2009, the World Esports Championship is a multi-title esports event that features nations competing against each other. This year’s edition covers five different esports titles, including Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, eFootball, PUBG Mobile and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. In comparison to previous years, fighting game Tekken 7 has been removed.
Founded in 2008 by nine member nations, IESF now includes 146 member national esports federations that send teams representing their respective countries to compete against each other. Earlier this year, IESF also began its host city bidding process for 2025 and 2026, welcoming any city interested in hosting the cross-title event.
At the end of 2023 IESF appointed Saudi Arabian royal family member Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud as its Active President.
Saudi Arabia, the host country for this year’s World Esports Championship, has heavily invested in the esports event space, having hosted the Esports World Cup earlier this year. Moreover, the country has invested in several gaming and esports companies through government-owned Savvy Games Group. Suadi Arabia’s global esports push has led to sections of the community criticising its involvement, dubbing it ‘esportswashing‘ to distract from the country’s current human rights laws.
Hans Schiller, General Manager at Hilton Riyadh Hotel and Residences, commented: “At Hilton Riyadh Hotel and Residences, we are proud to be the main partner of the World Esports Championship 2024 in Riyadh. Our commitment to excellence aligns perfectly with this prestigious event, where we aim to provide every participant with a world-class experience that goes beyond expectations.
“By partnering with the International Esports Federation, we are setting a new standard for Esports events, ensuring that WEC24 will be an unforgettable journey for all attendees. Join us as we elevate Esports and create moments that will be cherished for a lifetime.”
