RIYADH: Qiddiya, the Kingdom’s entertainment, sports and cultural destination, has become the official partner of the ESL Saudi Challenge Overwatch 2 tournament in Saudi Arabia.

The ESL FACEIT Group, the world’s leading esports and video game entertainment company, announced its partnership with Qiddiya in a press release recently.

Operated by the group, the ESL Saudi Challenge is a Kingdom-focused, high-stakes Overwatch 2 competition designed to provide local players with a clear professional and global pathway.

Qiddiya’s involvement further expands opportunities for young Saudi gamers to play, compete and qualify in a professional environment, gaining valuable experience at elite level.

The importance of developing a strong local competitive structure was underlined recently at DreamHack Stockholm, where Twisted Minds were crowned Overwatch 2 world champions after an all-Saudi grand final against Al-Qadsiah.

The success of both teams, which have emerged from the domestic Saudi scene, highlighted the impact of sustained grassroots competition and the role of platforms such as the ESL Saudi Challenge.

Franck Guignery, senior vice president for the Middle East and Africa at ESL FACEIT Group, stated: “Welcoming Qiddiya as our first Official Partner is a testament of their commitment to the grassroots scene.

“This partnership, driven by Qiddiya’s dedication to unleash the power of play, ensures that we can provide the professional infrastructure and world-class competition necessary for young Saudis to compete at an elite level and rise to the global stage.”

The partnership also supports ESL FACEIT Group’s role within Vision 2030’s National Esports & Gaming Strategy, which aims to build a sustainable and thriving esports ecosystem in Saudi Arabia.

The second season of the ESL Saudi Challenge is now underway, featuring an updated competition format designed to accelerate the growth of the Saudi esports community.

Season two’s first stage is the FACEIT Gauntlet, featuring eight teams that progress through open qualification rounds. These teams will compete throughout December 2025, with the top two earning places in an international FACEIT League competition.

Stage two will have the winner of the FACEIT Gauntlet join the top three teams from the previous season to contest the playoffs and grand final. The season will conclude with an offline final at ESL FACEIT Group’s new regional headquarters in Riyadh in early 2026.

Fans will be able to attend the live final in Riyadh, with ticket and attendance details to be announced later.