The Saudi Esports Federation has unveiled Saudi Arabian energy and chemicals company Aramco as a strategic partner. Aramco will sponsor two esports events: Gamers Without Borders and Gamers8: The Land of Heroes.
Gamers Without Borders is a $10m (~£8m) prize pool esports charity festival that features tournaments across multiple game titles.
Gamers8 is a gaming and esports festival with a massive $45m (~£36.33m) prize pool that is hosted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital. This year’s event has already announced tournaments within Rocket League, CS:GO, Rainbow Six Siege and Fortnite.
This is not Aramco’s first foray into esports. The energy juggernaut began working with the Saudi Esports Federation last year when it became the title partner of the Aramco Sim Arena at Gamers8. The company has also sponsored the F1 Esports Series Pro Championship since 2020.
Despite the enormous prize pool available for teams, last year Moist Esports, the organisation owned by popular creator ‘MoistCr1TiKaL’, made headlines when it declined an invite to Gamers8. It boycotted the Rocket League competition over the Saudi Arabian government’s stance on LGBTQ+ issues.
Ahmed Al Bishri, Deputy CEO at the Saudi Esports Federation, commented on the partnership: “Having Aramco back on board as a strategic partner is a great honour for us and we thank them for their continued support to esports and gaming in Saudi Arabia.
“There is much to build on from last year’s Gamers Without Borders and Gamers8 editions, as well as much to look forward to in 2023. With the extension of the partnership, the gaming community can expect new surprises through the creation of engaging, attractive content and experiences tailored to their needs. Aramco’s return as a strategic partner adds an extra layer of excellence to events that are highly anticipated around the world.”
