AG.AL Wins $7 Million Esports World Cup in Paris After Riyadh Venue Shift
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 24
AG.AL Wins $7 Million Esports World Cup in Paris After Riyadh Venue Shift
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Aug 24
Summary
$7 million went to China-based AG.AL after the team sealed a surprise Esports World Cup victory in Paris, overtaking defending champions Team Falcons on the final weekend.
Gwendal "Gwen" Duparc's Trackmania win delivered the decisive points after organizers moved the seven-week tournament from Riyadh to France over safety concerns tied to the US-Iran conflict.
850 million viewers and 175,000 tickets sold were claimed by organizers despite boycotts and criticism over Saudi Arabia's backing of the event and accusations of "sportswashing" or "pixelwashing."
Riyadh is still planned for next year's World Cup, even after the first Esports Nations Cup scheduled for Saudi Arabia this year was pushed back to 2027.