$45 million esports tournament Riyadh Masters announced

After a test run in 2022, Riyadh Masters is returning to esports with a $45 million prize pool.

Saudi Arabian esports organizer Gamers8 has announced a series of tournaments in 2023 that will feature a combined total prize pool of $45 million. The event will include several esports mainstays like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Dota 2 as well as less-established competitive titles like PUBG: Mobile and Rocket League. The events will begin on July 6, 2023, with schedules to be detailed closer to the event.

Gamers8 announced the event through social media with a tweet on March 7, 2023. The event will take place entirely in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Gamers8 tested the waters for massive esports tournaments last year with several sizable prize pools. Dota 2 Riyadh Masters boasted an insane $4.2 million prize, making it the second-most lucrative Dota 2 event of 2022 after The International.

“It is our great pleasure to once again welcome the elite of the esports world to Riyadh for Gamers8, the Land of Heroes, where the very best in esports shine and triumph,” said Saudi Esports Federation chairman Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan in an official press release.

Games featured at Riyadh Master $45 million esports tournament

The full list of games for Riyadh Masters 2023 has not yet been revealed, but the following titles are confirmed to appear at the $45 million esports extravaganza.

• Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
• Dota 2
• Fortnite
• PUBG: Mobile
• Rainbow Six Siege
• Rocket League

The biggest question most gamers will have is about prize pool distribution. Even in the world of esports, $45 million is a gargantuan amount of money. It will most likely be heavily favored towards more established esports, namely Dota 2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Fortnite will likely also get a sizable prize pool. 

League of Legends will be notably absent from the event, which could be a result of Riot’s distancing from Saudi Arabian esports money. Personalities from that game have even left the scene as a result of Saudi involvement. The streaming community has also expressed concern over the country entering the esports space.