RIYADH: The Saudi eLeagues, the Kingdom’s most prestigious esports circuit, has officially launched its 2026 season with a new era of competition that features a four-product format and a prize pool of more than $1million (SAR4 million).

Organized by the Saudi Esports Federation, the league has already begun its opening week, setting the stage for what promises to be the most competitive season to date.

This year it has expanded its competitive framework with Yalla Group joining as official partner of the Saudi eLeagues and presenting partner of the women’s league, now officially named Yalla Saudi eLeague Women.

The 2026 season is structured across four distinct categories, each designed to foster growth. The Saudi eLeague Elite serves as the pinnacle of professional play, with the Kingdom’s top clubs and players competing across 10 of the world’s biggest esports titles including Rainbow Six Siege X, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, PUBG MOBILE Rocket League, VALORANT, EAFC26, Fortnite, Warzone, Overwatch 2 and Apex Legends.

Supporting this is the Saudi eLeagues Challenger, a focused platform for developing specific gaming communities through six leagues in titles such as Dota 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, League of Legends, COD Mobile, Counter-Strike 2 and eFootball.

Yalla Saudi eLeague Women is a dedicated space designed to empower and elevate Saudi female players in a professional environment across four major titles — Overwatch 2, Valorant, EAFC26, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.

Running alongside this core structure is the Saudi Fighting League, which is exclusively for the fighting game community. Acting as the ultimate pipeline for fighting game enthusiasts, it is purposefully designed to build strong grassroots engagement while fostering elite local talent.

Beyond the individual tournament, the ultimate prize remains the Cross-Game Club Championship. Clubs accumulate points across all SEL tournaments throughout the season, with the top-ranking organization winning the grand prize of $270,000 at the end of the year. A dominant season saw Twisted Minds crowned champions in 2025.

Abdullah Al-Nasser, SEF’s head of esports products, said: “We are incredibly excited to launch the 2026 season with this new, dynamic structure. Our goal this year is to create more opportunities for every type of player, from grassroots enthusiasts to elite professionals. This season is for you, the players and the fans, and we are committed to making it the most competitive and engaging season yet. The rivalries will be fierce, the talent is stronger than ever, and we can’t wait to see who will rise to the top.”