Esports World Cup Foundation, Amazon announce pact to take gaming mainstream

The Esports World Cup 2025 will feature 2,000 elite players and 200 clubs from over 100 countries. (Supplied)
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Updated 12 June 2025
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Esports World Cup Foundation, Amazon announce pact to take gaming mainstream

  • Three-year plan to boost Esports World Cup’s global reach
  • Key locales include US, Europe, Middle East, India and Canada

RIYADH: The Esports World Cup Foundation has announced a three-year collaboration with Amazon Ads.

The pact announced on Tuesday by the EWCF combines the Esports World Cup’s premier event with Amazon’s full-funnel advertising and entertainment services.

The world cup will be held in Riyadh from July 7 to Aug. 24.

The organizations hope to deliver compelling fan experiences and expand the tournament’s global reach across Twitch, Prime Video, Alexa and Wondery.

The two organizations collaborated last year on the inaugural Esports World Cup, which featured the launch of a tournament hub on Amazon.sa and Amazon.ae.

“Esports is redefining how a new generation consumes entertainment — always on, always accessible, and deeply social,” said Mike McCabe, chief operating officer at the EWCF.

“With Amazon, we are bringing esports into everyday digital lives for millions of people around the world — whether you’re catching highlights on Prime, or a livestream on Twitch, or asking Alexa for updates — creating an immersive, multimedia experience that’s shaping its place in global culture.”

The organizations will extend the reach of the Esports World Cup across key locales, including the US, Europe, Brazil, Mexico, the Middle East and North Africa, Turkiye, India and Canada.

Rayan Karaky, managing director, EMEA & Southeast Asia at Amazon Ads, said: “We are excited to continue our collaboration with EWCF to shape how esports is experienced globally.

“Our collaboration will power immersive fan experiences across multiple touchpoints and create exceptional value for brands.”

The Esports World Cup 2025 will feature 2,000 elite players and 200 clubs from over 100 countries, competing in 25 tournaments across 24 games for a record-breaking $70 million prize pool.


Saudi Arabia ‘elevating’ women’s cricket with new T20 tournament

Updated 44 min 4 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia ‘elevating’ women’s cricket with new T20 tournament

  • Groundbreaking partnership to feature players from 35 countries
  • Annual Women’s T20 World Challenge marks new chapter for women’s sport, says Prince Saud bin Mishal Al-Saud

RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation’s new five-year partnership with FairBreak Global to host a Women’s World T20 Challenge in Saudi Arabia from 2026, will be “elevating” the game for females in the Kingdom.

This was the comment made by SACF Chairman Prince Saud bin Mishal Al-Saud in a press release recently. “This partnership represents another step in our journey to build a world-class cricket ecosystem in the Kingdom,” he said.

“By bringing a global women’s tournament to Saudi Arabia, we are not only elevating the sport, but also opening new pathways for talent development, private-sector participation, and international investment — fully aligned with our vision for the future of cricket and the ambitions of Vision 2030,” he added.

The event will be the first professional women’s T20 league to take place in the Kingdom.

The challenge will bring together players from more than 35 countries, including many from emerging cricket nations.

“This partnership is more than a tournament, it is a long-term investment in the future of women’s sport in Saudi Arabia,” said Tariq Ziad Sagga, CEO of the SACF.

“We are proud to welcome the world’s leading players while creating new pathways for Saudi girls and women to participate in sport at every level. This reflects our values of growth, ambition and global collaboration,” he added.

The event will also be made accessible to global audiences through live broadcast and digital streaming, said the SACF.

“We are proud to partner with Saudi Arabia on what we believe is a truly significant step for FairBreak and for women’s cricket worldwide,” said R.V. Venkatesh, MD at FairBreak Cricket Ltd.

“Saudi Arabia offers not only a world-class stage, but also a long-term opportunity to grow the game, support emerging talent, and bring people together through sport. This is about building something meaningful, with real momentum and global relevance,” added Venkatesh.

“This is more than a cricket tournament. It’s a statement that Saudi Arabia is ready to lead globally in sport, innovation, and inclusion,” said Taha Coburn-Kutay, director at FairBreak.

“As we invest in infrastructure and access, we are also investing in the future of women in cricket and inviting the world to experience a new, modern Saudi Arabia,” said Coburn-Kutay.