Team Falcons, the esports team from Saudi Arabia, has claimed the title of Esports World Cup 2024 champions, securing an impressive prize of $7 million (1.93 billion PKR) at Boulevard Riyadh City. This marks a significant milestone for the Kingdom, and considering the Esports World Cup was held in Riyadh for the first time, the Falcons' victory is even more special for the home crowd.

The Falcons dominated the competition, strengthening their lead with early victories and finishing with 5,665 points. They earned 1,000 points each for winning the Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile Championship during Week 1 and the Free Fire tournament in Week 2. These achievements set them on a course for ultimate victory, culminating in their coronation as world champions at the event’s closing ceremony on Sunday, August 25.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a strong supporter of Saudi Arabia's growing gaming sector, participated in the ceremony and awarded the Falcons their trophy. The success of the Saudi team reflects the Kingdom’s significant investment in esports and aligns with its broader ‘Vision 2030’ goals of expanding the sports and entertainment industries.

And as for the other competitors, Team Liquid from the Netherlands finished second, winning $4 million (1.1 billion PKR), while Team BDS secured third place with a $2 million (55 crore PKR) prize. Despite strong efforts, Liquid missed out on qualifying for the final Tekken 8 tournament, which dashed their hopes of overtaking the Falcons. Team Vitality of France, another top contender, also fell short after being eliminated in the StarCraft II competition, ensuring the Falcons' unassailable lead.

The Esports World Cup featured a massive prize pool of $60 million and spanned eight weeks, showcasing 22 video games. Over 1 million visitors attended the event, which was broadcast worldwide and amassed 177.5 million viewing hours in its first four weeks alone. Notable figures such as football stars Neymar Jr. and Jota were in attendance, adding to the event’s global appeal.

Pakistani teams also participated, with HotShot representing in Free Fire, although they were eliminated in the league stage. In Tekken, four Pakistani players made it to the top eight, but South Korea’s Ulsan emerged as the champion, defeating Pakistan’s Atif Butt in the final.

Saudi Arabia's successful hosting of the Esports World Cup, combined with its bid for the FIFA World Cup and plans to host the first Olympic Esports Games in 2025, showcases its ambition to become a global sports hub. These initiatives are expected to boost the country’s economy and contribute to the development of local talent in the rapidly growing esports industry.