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The Riyadh 2023 Global Esports Games kicked off on Tuesday evening at the prestigious SEF Arena in Riyadh, marking the beginning of a five-day esports extravaganza that will run until Saturday.
The Global Esports Federation’s flagship esports event, hosted by the Saudi Esports Federation, #GEG23 is the third edition of this annual global event, following the resounding success of Singapore 2021 and Istanbul 2022.
With over 950 athletes from over 100 nations and territories registered for the qualifiers, 240 athletes from 56 nations and territories are competing in the World Finals in Riyadh this week.
Of the 56 countries being represented, eight are from Africa, 12 from the Americas and 18 from Asia.
Europe also has 17 representatives while Oceania’s hopes rest with Australia and New Zealand.
The Global Esports Games has firmly established itself as a cornerstone in the ever-expanding world of esports.
The tournament showcases the prowess of gamers in four leading esports titles — Dota 2 (Valve), eFootball, 2024 (KONAMI), PUBG MOBILE (KRAFTON & Level Infinite), and Street Fighter 6 (Capcom).
Chris Chan, president of GEF, set the tone for the event during the opening ceremony stating:
“Today is a historic day for esports and sports, and our #worldconnected community. It signals the coming together of people from every continent on earth, bridging tradition and innovation, while looking ahead to the dynamic opportunities for a brighter future.”
HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, SEF Chairman, echoed the sentiment, “This flagship event is one of the upmost significance, as well as a truly global spectacle that enables us to captivate people while further uniting the #worldconnected esports community.
“In the days ahead, the Games will showcase nothing short of an extraordinary display of excellence, proving that passion and skill are the ultimate currencies for driving advancement, bridging cultures, and inspiring greatness.”
The #GEG23 commenced with the 11th GEF board meeting, where HRH Prince Faisal was welcomed as an honorary member of the GEF board.
Following, the fourth GEF General Assembly saw the election of Chris Chan to a second term as president of the Global Esports Federation.
A round of candidates, approved by GEF’s executive committee, were elected by the full General Assembly to the GEF Board, adding expertise and valuable global perspectives.
The GEF community was updated on the successes of the inaugural European Games Esports Championships (#EGE23) in Katowice and the Pan American Esports Championships (#PEC23) that concluded in Santiago, Chile recently.
GEFcon featured engaging discussions on innovation, technology, inclusivity, and global impact, with prominent figures from various fields sharing insights.
Topics ranged from esports innovation and technology to active inclusivity and the global impact of esports.
In addition to the thrilling competition and thought-provoking discussions, #GEG23 offers spectators the GEFestival experience.
Attendees can enjoy Saudi hospitality in an alfresco area with live music, live cooking demonstrations, camel and falcon photo opportunities, and a traditional costume section immersing visitors in the rich heritage and culture of Saudi Arabia.
An Arabic calligraphy station, providing attendees a personalized masterpiece, capturing the essence of Saudi culture — Globalesports.org
Online Reporter