The highly anticipated Riyadh 2023 Global Esports Games (GEG 2023) is back for its third edition, kicking off on December 12th and running until the 16th. This grand competition, hosted by the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF) and presented by the Global Esports Federation (GEF), promises an electrifying spectacle with over 250 participants representing 50+ nations competing across four popular titles: Dota 2, PUBG Mobile, Street Fighter 6, and eFootball 2024.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Dates: December 12th to 16th, 2023
- Location: Saudi eLeagues, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Participating Nations: Over 50
Olympic-Style Competition:
GEG 2023 takes an Olympic-style approach, where players represent their nations, not just themselves. This adds a layer of patriotism and national pride, making every victory even more significant. Out of the initial 1,165 players from 104 countries who participated in the qualifiers, only 250 from 56 nations have made it to the final stage.
Titles:
- Dota 2: Eight qualifying countries will compete in an exciting LAN tournament, culminating in a single-elimination bracket battle.
- Dota 2 Women: Eight teams with complete female lineups will fight for glory in a three-day LAN tournament.
- Street Fighter 6: 32 elite players will showcase their skills in a round-robin group stage leading to a thrilling single-elimination finale.
- eFootball 2024: 28 countries, each represented by one athlete, will duel it out in a round-robin group stage followed by a single-elimination playoff.
- PUBG Mobile: 16 nations will compete for points over two days, with the team topping the leaderboard ultimately crowned champion.
Five Thrilling Esports Events:
1. Dota 2 Open:
Eight qualified countries will battle it out in a LAN tournament across five days, vying for the coveted global champion title.
Date
12th December to 16th December
Format
- It will follow a single-elimination bracket
- All the matches feature best-of-three series
Teams
- Saudi Arabia – Host Nation
- Brazil – Americas Qualifier
- Serbia – Europe Qualifier
- Turkey – Europe Qualifier
- South Africa – Africa Qualifier
- Malaysia – Asia Qualifier
- Kazakhstan – Aisa-Europe Qualifier
- Australia – Oceania Qualifier
2. Dota 2 Women:
An exciting LAN tournament featuring only female teams, competing for the global championship across three days.
Date
14th December to 16th December
Format
- It will follow a single-elimination bracket
- All the matches feature best-of-three series
Teams
- Thailand
- Malaysia
- Turkey
- Argentina
- Peru
- New Zealand
- Chile
- Kenya
3. Street Fighter 6:
32 elite players representing their countries will clash in a round-robin group stage, followed by a single-elimination final. The last nation standing will be crowned the champion.
Date
12th December to 13th December
Format
- The initial group stage will split the participants into four groups of eight countries each.
- Every group will follow a round-robin format.
- The teams that qualify for the final stage will follow a single-elimination format.
Teams
Group A
- Algeria
- Kenya
- Kuwait
- Malaysia
- Nigeria
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- United Arab Emirates
Group B
- Argentina
- Australia
- Iran
- Ireland
- Pakistan
- Poland
- Serbia
- Thailand
Group C
- Bahrain
- Brazil
- Chinese Taipei
- Dominican Republic
- Honduras
- Jamaica
- Peru
- Philippines
Group D
- Bangladesh
- Belgium
- Chile
- Colombia
- Great Britain
- Italy
- Lithuania
- Senegal
4. eFootball 2024:
28 countries, each represented by one athlete, will compete in a round-robin group stage, followed by a single-elimination final. The ultimate victor will be crowned the champion.
Date
- 13th December to 15th December
Format
- The initial group stage will split the participants into four groups of seven countries each.
- Every group will follow a round-robin format.
- The top four teams from each group will qualify for the final stage.
- The teams that qualify for the final stage will follow a single-elimination format.
- The country that makes it to the end will be crowned as the champion.
Teams
- Group A
- Argentina
- Ghana
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Poland
- Tunisia
- United Arab Emirates
- Group B
- Albania
- Colombia
- Italy
- Malaysia
- Palestine
- Peru
- Thailand
- Group C
- Algeria
- Belgium
- Georgia
- Jordan
- Panama
- Senegal
- Turkey
- Group D
- Brazil
- India
- Iran
- Luxembourg
- Netherlands
- Sri Lanka
- Uruguay
5. PUBG Mobile:
In this debut season for PUBG Mobile, 16 countries will participate in a two-day point-based competition, where the team with the highest points at the end will be declared the champion.
Date
- 14th December to 15th December
Format
- This event will follow a point system based on which all 16 teams will be ranked on a leaderboard.
- The team on top of the leaderboard after all matches are played out with be crowned as the champion.
Teams
- Algeria
- Brazil
- Guatemala
- Kazakhstan
- Kuwait
- Moldava
- Myanmar
- Nigeria
- Serbia
- Somalia
- Sri Lanka
- Thailand
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- Vietnam
- Saudi Arabia
Grand Stage and Huge Prizes:
The event will be broadcasted live from Saudi eLeagues, Riyadh, the heart of esports in Saudi Arabia. With huge prizes on the line, the competition promises to be fierce and captivating.
Turki Al-Fawzan, CEO of the Saudi Esports Federation, expressed his enthusiasm:
“The Riyadh 2023 Global Esports Games are going to be epic and we’re sure today’s announcement will take the pre-event buzz to a whole new level. With glory, bragging rights, and huge prizes at stake, elimination tournaments featuring the world’s best teams and talent always captivate audiences. The stage is set for history to repeat itself in the Saudi capital and we can’t wait for the action to begin on December 12. This event is sure to showcase to the world why esports is the fastest-growing and most entertaining sport on the planet. The Games are simply unmissable.”
Furthermore, GEFcon, a thought-leadership esports event, will be held on December 12th. This prestigious event gathers leading figures in the esports industry to discuss the future of esports and chart its course towards an exciting new chapter.
With top-tier competition, a passionate atmosphere, and a focus on the future of esports, GEG 2023 promises to be an unforgettable event for players, fans, and industry professionals alike. Mark your calendars and get ready for an epic esports experience!
GEFcon: Charting the Future of Esports:
On December 12th, alongside the main event, GEFcon, a thought-leadership esports event, will take place, bringing together esports leaders to discuss and shape the future of this rapidly growing industry.
Don’t Miss the Action:
With its high stakes, global representation, and exciting game titles, GEG 2023 is an unmissable event for any esports enthusiast. Mark your calendars and get ready to witness some of the best players in the world battle it out for glory and national pride!
