Join EarlyGame India’s exclusive coverage from Riyadh at the Esports World Cup 2025—highlighting PUBG Mobile, Overwatch, vibrant festival events, and arena highlights.
Arriving in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on August 3, 2025, marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey to cover the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025. Our heartfelt thanks go to Inga Howell for graciously inviting us, making this remarkable experience possible.
EWC 2025 Venue Impressions
The first impression upon reaching the venue was pure amazement. Boulevard Riyadh City, the venue for EWC 2025, is massive, unlike anything we've seen before at esports events.
Saudi Arabia truly went above and beyond, setting a high bar with exceptional organization and world-class facilities. To give you an idea, the venue comprises multiple large arenas—around four or five—including prominent spaces like the STC and Qiddiya Arena. Each arena simultaneously hosted various esports events, creating an electrifying atmosphere throughout the complex.
However, our mission here was clear. We arrived primarily to cover PUBG Mobile and Overwatch tournaments, prioritizing PUBG Mobile due to its immense popularity in India. Also, for the very first, a team from India, “Team Aryan,” made it to PMWC, giving us another reason to get excited. Watching both games live set the stage for an unforgettable esports experience.
Behind the Scenes: Media and PR
But before the matches began, we decided to peek behind the scenes.
Exploring behind-the-scenes areas added depth to our coverage. The media rooms were well-equipped, and the PR team deserves a massive shout-out—they were incredibly welcoming, professional, and efficient, treating us like family. A special mention goes to Joey, who personally guided us through the entire venue, ensuring we didn't miss a thing and giving us a sense of belonging in this massive esports ecosystem.
After familiarizing ourselves backstage, we ventured into other arenas scattered across Boulevard Riyadh City. Here, fans had plenty to explore, from gaming merchandise stalls overflowing with exclusive gear to team-related collectibles capturing every gamer's interest.
Live Matches Had Intense Energy
As thrilling as these experiences were, nothing compared to the intense energy inside the main arenas during match hours.
PUBG Mobile EWC 2025 Grand Finale: A Battle to Remember
The PMWC 2025 Grand Finals stood out prominently due to its electric atmosphere and passionate fan base. The arena vibrated with excitement, particularly from Hora Esports' dedicated supporters, whose energetic chants filled the air. We also spotted a good number of supporters for 4Thrives Esports, creating a friendly rivalry among fans.
Despite Horaa Esports enjoying the loudest cheers, Yangon Galacticos (YG) from Myanmar emerged victorious. YG’s dominant performance was undeniable, earning them four Chicken Dinners and a total of 157 points. Their win secured a substantial prize of $547,000. Adding to the tournament drama, DOK from APG was named Finals MVP for his standout gameplay under intense pressure.
But not to undermine the performance of Horaa Esports, thanks to the cheers from the fans, they had the highest amount of chicken dinner during the last match of the grand finale.
Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS) Midseason Championship: Local Pride
The OWCS Midseason Championship arena was similarly charged with passion, driven by fervent local support for Twisted Minds. The support was extraordinary—locals conducted marches and rallies within the venue, cheering loudly and proudly for their heroes. Such enthusiastic local support turned the arena into a celebration of community spirit and esports culture.
However, it was Team Falcons who ultimately secured a convincing victory, sweeping QAD 4-0. Kim 'Proper' Dong-hyun from Team Falcons delivered an extraordinary performance, earning him the Sony Tournament MVP award and a $10,000 prize.
Festival Atmosphere and Arenas
But that wasn’t all. What truly set this Esports World Cup apart was its festive vibe.
The Esports World Cup transcended typical esports events, resembling a massive festival spread across Boulevard Riyadh City. Around six to seven enormous sections hosted diverse activities. Fans explored gaming merchandise and memorabilia stalls, participated in interactive VR sessions, cosplay events, and enjoyed vibrant live performances, DJ sets, and a variety of food options.
stc Gaming Hall
The stc Gaming Hall served as the flagship festival venue, where gaming communities and esports fans connected. Attendees watched Last Chance Qualifiers, visited publisher and club booths, challenged friends, and participated in leaderboard competitions.
SNB Esports Arena & Esports Arena 4
These arenas hosted additional tournaments, adding further variety to the esports competitions.
Japan Park in Crunchyroll Box
This unique cultural venue blended iconic anime, gaming, and traditional Japanese festival elements, bringing a vibrant Shibuya-meets-summer-matsuri atmosphere to life through engaging IPs, food, music, and interactivity.
HMG Play Park
A dynamic space where physical movement powered games, promoting a healthy lifestyle. This park featured globally renowned virtual reality experiences, such as EVA.
Aramco SIM Arena
Replicating the starting grid of a real-life Formula 1 circuit, this arena immersed visitors in the thrilling world of motorsports, reflecting Aramco's dedication to virtual and physical racing.
Content Creator Park
A unique storytelling ecosystem designed for content creators and local clubs to engage fans through immersive experiences, even remotely, fostering community connection and collaboration.
JAMEEL Motorsport Park
Blending real-world racing and gaming culture, this park offered immersive karting, sim racing experiences, interactive showcases, and competitive leaderboard challenges suitable for families and fans alike.
Each section offered unique experiences that kept us thoroughly entertained for two to three hours. For instance, the Aramco F1 Arena allowed fans to step into realistic racing simulators, giving us a chance to feel the thrill of driving an Formula 1 simulator car. We also visited the lively WWE Arena, buzzing with enthusiastic wrestling fans engaging in exciting activities. Every area we visited contributed distinctly to the unforgettable festival spirit.
Closing Reflections
Reflecting on our time at EWC 2025, the exceptional scale of the event, combined with top-tier organization and intense fan energy, highlighted a new standard in global esports competitions.
The professionalism of the organizers, combined with the sheer scale of the event and the overwhelming enthusiasm of fans, makes this edition of the Esports World Cup truly iconic. For gaming enthusiasts, esports lovers, and anyone passionate about online games, this event in Riyadh is undoubtedly one for the history books.
With plenty more action still ahead, our adventure in Riyadh continues.