First split of Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports concludes in the KSA with more than 2,000 universities taking part
■ The participating teams accumulated points towards an overall scoreboard that will determine which teams qualify for the international on-site competition.
■ The project includes educational activities, and for the first time in the KSA, the UNIVERSITY Tour is held, which visits universities across the country to introduce young people to the world of esports.
Riyadh, KSA, 24 January, 2024 – Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports has concluded its Winter Split Competition of the 2022/23 season, with more than 2,000 students from over 65 universities participating in the competition for a grand total prize pool of 12,500 dollars. Students have taken part every week in a spirit of community and competition to determine the top teams in a range of games including League of Legends, VALORANT, Rocket League, Overwatch 2, Rainbow Six Siege and Call of Duty.
In addition to video game competitions, the project includes in-person and educational activities and provides students with the opportunity to take their first steps into this rapidly growing industry professionally.
The full list of winners
In Riot Games’ titles, the team ‘Full’, won the League of Legends finals, comprised of students from King Saud University, King Abdulaziz University and University of Jeddah. In VALORANT, the ‘QQ’ team triumphed in the finals, with students from King Saud University, Umm Al-Qura University, and Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University.
Both winning and finalist teams will represent the UAE in the Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports Masters MENA Series. This live event brings together the best university teams from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, and Morocco to compete for the regional championship.
Community tournaments for Rocket League, Overwatch 2, Rainbow Six Siege, FIFA 24, Call of Duty, and FC 24were also organized.
From virtual to on-site
Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports is not just an online gaming competition, it is also committed to reaching today’s youth, by hosting the UNIVERSITY Tour. This face-to-face event aims to introduce young people to the esports ecosystem.
For the first time in the Kingdom, the UNIVERSITY Tour will be held. The Tour will visit several universities during the second split, where students could learn more about the competition.
Rise of Esports in KSA
With 85% of MENA’s gaming enthusiasts, Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports has been an early investor in KSA as a burgeoning esports hub. In summer 2024 the country, which is on track to become the esports capital of the world, will host the Esports World Cup. Its esports market, valued at $1 billion in 2021, is projected to soar to $6.8 billion by 2030. This growth aligns with the Saudi government’s commitment to invest over $6.4 billion in future technologies, including esports, as part of its Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy.
Supporting the student esports community
Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports is made possible thanks to the support of top-level publishers such as Riot Games, Ubisoft, and Shahid.
Registrations for the second split qualifiers are now open. Additionally, Ramadan activities will be held throughout March and April. More information can be found on Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports’ social media, and its website (https://sa.universityesports.net/).
