Moving the Championship to Paris

In seven weeks, Saudi Arabia transformed the decision to relocate the World Esports Championship from Riyadh to Paris, turning a risky gamble into a test of its ability to build an exportable business model. Ticket sales in Paris exceeded 150,000 in early August, while the event featured over 2,000 players, 200 clubs, 25 competitions across 24 games, with prize money exceeding $75 million. The Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, and French President Emmanuel Macron attended the finale on Sunday, giving the championship political and media weight beyond the esports itself.

Saudi Investments Back the Event

On August 4, a coalition led by the Saudi Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Infinity Partners completed a $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts, the owner of titles such as EA Sports FC and Battlefield. Additional investments by the Safi for Games group in Scopely and ESL FACEIT Group strengthen Saudi Arabia’s goal of turning esports into a key economic driver, with a projected contribution of SAR 50 billion to GDP by 2030 and the production of more than 30 globally competitive games in Saudi studios.

Public Interest and Viewership

Esports Charts data showed a sharp rise in viewership for several tournaments, with PUBG Mobile topping the charts in week six at 17.68 million hours – the highest in five years. League of Legends also saw higher viewership than the 2025 Riyadh edition. A “Le Monde” report estimated the event would generate about €600 million in indirect economic impact in France.

Saudi Teams’ Performance

Saudi teams have maintained a strong presence since the championship’s launch in summer 2024, with Falconz winning the first two editions. In 2026, 12 Saudi teams competed, including Falconz, Twisted Minds, Vision, Rock, AR 8, and The Fish, plus club teams such as Al‑Alah, Al‑Qadsia, Al‑Ahli, Al‑Ittihad, Stalyons, and G‑K. Saudi teams captured three titles out of 25 tournaments in 2026: two for Falconz and one for Vision.

Challenges and Achievements

Mohammed Al‑Nimr, Head of Commercial Affairs at the Saudi Esports Organization, said visa arrangements and logistics posed major challenges, but cooperation with French authorities and private partners enabled the competitions to move to the Champs‑Élysées, turning it into a showcase of the championship’s ambition. He also noted that the World Esports Championship has become a growing commercial asset, supported by major sponsors from Saudi Arabia and around the world, with a significant marketing boost from Cristiano Ronaldo’s participation.

Conclusion

On the final day, Saudi Arabia’s bet to move the championship to Paris appears to have paid off, with strong indicators in sales, viewership, and political attendance proving its capacity to successfully organize a global event.