At the end of January, it was revealed that Gamers8 will return in the summer, spanning eight weeks packed full of esports and gaming action. Last year, more than 1.4 million people attended the event in Riyadh, which boasted a total prize pool of $15 million. Now, from the 6th of July, gaming fans and esports competitors will once again descend on Riyadh for the Gamers8 tournament, and it has been confirmed that a $1 million CSGO tournament is set to be held at the event.

At the last event, the likes of Rainbow Six, Rocket League, and PUBG took centre stage, but this year, things are going to be bigger and bolder. There’s now a $30 million prize pool on the line, and Dota 2 will claim the largest portion of that pool – just as it did last year. This summer, Gamers8 will establish itself as the home of one of the most valuable CSGO tournaments in the space, and fans are excited.

Image Credit: Gamers8

In 2022, it was revealed that a $37 billion investment strategy had been assembled in order to make Saudi Arabia the leading player in the esports space. In September, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, revealed a monumental plan to create 39,000 job opportunities to support the development of the esports scene in-country. Last year, Gamers8 debuted as one of the first major steps in that plan, and it proved to be a remarkably successful event.

This year’s show, which is being dubbed ‘The Land of Heroes’, will play host to both a $15 million Dota 2 event and a $1 million CSGO tournament. At present, these are the only confirmed tournaments, but more will follow as the event approaches. In a statement, Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, the current Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, said:

‘Gamers8: The Land of Heroes is going to be the destination this summer, and we are delighted to once again welcome the elite of the esports world to Riyadh. The Land of Heroes is the place for both esports champions competing for glory and gaming fans looking to write their own stories.’

Reportedly, Gamers8 is set to become a one-stop shop for all things gaming and esports this year. From festivals and live music performances to family-friendly activities and educational events, Gamers8 is guaranteed to have something for everyone. As the event draws nearer, high-profile partnerships are emerging, too. Recently, it was revealed that Razer was named the official gaming gear partner of the tournament.

However, it’s important to stress that not everybody is a backer of the Gamers8 tournament. For instance, Moist Esports, newly formed in 2021, confirmed it would be boycotting Gamers8 as a result of the Saudi Arabian government’s stance on the LGBTQ+ community.

Gamers8 kicks off on July 6th and will run for eight weeks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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