Game players from eight nations led avatars armed with guns through a battle royale in the Saudi capital as cheering spectators watched the action on a giant screen while donning headphones and anti-sweat finger gloves.
The PUBG Mobile competition was a part of Gamers8, a summer event that highlighted Saudi Arabia’s development as a global eSports powerhouse. Officials believe that Saudi Arabia can compete with eSports superpowers like China and South Korea.
The world’s largest oil exporter has recently used its enormous resources to push itself on the eSports arena, organising lavish conferences and acquiring seasoned event organisers, much like Formula One and professional golf.
Saudi gamers are enjoying the eye-watering prize pools and the stature their nation has acquired.
22-year-old Faisal Ghafiri, who participated in the PUBG competition and won $3 million in prize money, stated, “In the past, there was no support.”
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