Saudi Crown Prince Awards Team Falcons as Champions of Esports World Cup 2025

Riyadh witnessed a historic evening on Sunday as Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman attended the closing ceremony of the 2025 Esports World Cup. He was joined by Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah and several dignitaries in a celebration that highlighted Saudi Arabia’s growing role in global esports.

The highlight of the night came when the Crown Prince handed over the championship trophy to Team Falcons, who were crowned champions after an outstanding performance. The team secured 5,200 points across the 7-week competition, earning the grand prize of $7 million from a record-breaking prize pool of over $70 million — the largest in esports history.

Mossad Al-Dossary, chairman of Team Falcons, proudly received the trophy, while the team celebrated with thousands of fans and global icons. Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, representing Al-Nassr, joined the celebrations, posing with the winners and sharing in their victory.

The closing ceremony was a spectacle in itself, filled with live performances and appearances by international sports stars. Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, and Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, praised the Kingdom’s ability to create a world-class event that blended competition, entertainment, and cultural experiences.

The numbers reflected the success:

• 2,000 professional players from 200 clubs across 100 countries competed in 25 tournaments.

• More than 750 million viewers followed the matches online, logging over 350 million viewing hours.

• Ticket sales jumped 53% compared to last year, while international content demand grew by 40%.

• The tournament was broadcast in 35 languages to more than 100 countries.

Beyond the games, Riyadh welcomed over three million visitors to Boulevard Riyadh City, which hosted the event along with more than 1,500 community, cultural, and entertainment activities — making it not just a competition, but a global festival of gaming.

Launched by the Crown Prince in 2023, the World Esports Cup has quickly become the largest event of its kind, with Saudi Arabia positioning itself as the global hub of esports.

With the 2025 edition closing on a high note, Riyadh has once again proven its ability to host events that blend innovation, culture, and sport — leaving an unforgettable mark on the esports world.