Saudi Arabia's Gamers8 festival to feature $1 million CS:GO tournament

17/3/2023 - 21:02

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's capital city, will host the tournament from August 14-20.

Gamers8 has announced that it will host a CS:GO tournament with $1 million on offer and 12 "elite" teams in attendance on August 14-20 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Gamers8 is a self-proclaimed "world's largest gaming and esports festival," whose second edition will take place over the course of eight weeks in the Saudi Arabian capital, starting from July 6.

CS:GO features on the list of competitions for the first time, after the 2022 edition hosted tournaments in Rainbow Six: Siege, Dota 2, Fortnite, and Rocket League. For now, Dota 2 is the only other title announced for this year's festival with a whopping $15 million on offer.

The event currently coincides with the first week of ESL Pro League Season 18, which is scheduled to take place in Malta from August 15-September 24.

More details about the festival and the CS:GO tournament are still to come. It's unclear whether the participants will be determined via invites or if any qualifiers will be organized.

The ESL FACEIT Group, which is owned by Saudi Arabia's public investment fund-backed Savvy Games Group, will serve as the production company for the event, a representative has confirmed to HLTV.org. ESL was heavily involved in organizing the 2022 edition's esports tournaments and this year's Dota 2 tournament features on the ESL Pro Tour.

2023-03-17 21:02

26 replies

can't wait to see which orgs stick true to their morals and see which ones sell out despite all they nonsense they spam on socials!

2023-03-17 21:58

25 replies

attending an event has nothing to do with morals lmao especially when saudi arabia literally owns esl anyways. You think it's a "gotcha" moment but all the orgs are already "gotcha'd" lmao.

2023-03-17 22:03

4 replies

2023-03-18 00:54

Ouch, that's gotta sting a bit heh

2023-03-18 03:14

one can take a look at football and who are the owners of the richest clubs now)

2023-03-18 15:12

you're right when talking about who owns ESL and already gotched, but i understand the first guy point, he's talking about hypocrisy is pretty annoying see this orgs post all this shits following the woke agenda while they are in only for the money and will play in a country that despise the woke agenda

2023-03-19 01:29

this is crazy actually 1million robux for free (no relevant team will attend) or get cancel

2023-03-17 22:15

whos gonna tell him?

2023-03-17 22:42

orgs prefered to yoink 5% extra on ESL deal when ESL vs Flashpoint was a thing, so they bend over themselves

2023-03-17 23:11

Gamers8>Gamers2

2023-03-18 04:03

1 reply

Gamers2 best polish team

2023-03-28 17:28

blast world finals was in dubai, do yall really think a statement was made?

2023-03-18 05:24

2 replies

Dubai is not in Saudi Arabia, bro

2023-03-18 16:09

No, but Dubai isn't much better than SA.

2023-03-18 20:12

I want to unironically say: screw "morals". You are naive if you think the scene can survive "morally" - at the end of the day, money entering the scene has to come from somewhere, whether it's betting sites, or advertising dumb things to kids that they don't need, including unhealthy crap like energy drinks and "gamer fuel" Hey the Saudis want to pay pro players in the CS scene a million dollars? I'm all for it if it helps the scene. Pro players have to be paid. We can't expect them to dedicate their full time attention to bring us quality content if they can't be paid a full time wage. Last time I checked, boycotting the saudis isn't going to make a difference in the world.

2023-03-18 05:28

7 replies

Boycotting Saudi is like boycotting US, no point cuz they're the one one who rule the world rn

2023-03-18 06:42

5 replies

they rule desert only gas make them a thing they desperate trying to atract peple and imbortart but fails theres is also more gas country like venezuela biggest pool in world

2023-03-18 14:18

Are you trying to make fun of a desert? so what most country’s have one is china a desert is USA a desert? No plus there is difference between Saudi and venezuela Saudi is stable and no hyper inflation + you are probably used Saudi gas and oil

2023-03-18 14:35

3 replies

i laugh about fact 100 years they were peasant with goats and just lucky with gas but still they dont create anything innowative cars planes etc they are same mental like 100 years ago just wear gucci

2023-03-18 14:40

2023-03-18 16:07

Whataboutism it seems look at Dubai and Saudi all making new projects I have no idea where you learned ur information and facts

2023-03-23 18:57

2023-03-18 11:40

you are from the us stop giving moral lessons to other people

2023-03-18 05:59

lol you should be quiet too as a german ...

2023-03-18 16:08

??? What morals they already saw the money and jumped ship to blastm there are no morals in csgo. It's who gives you money so you fo there. Esports as a whole is about where the money is. Fuck we have teams from EU that will go to fragadelphia for some quick cash.

2023-03-18 09:51

2023-03-17 21:03

Not bad i guess

I remember where people were not paid by WESC probably until now?

2023-03-17 22:02

WESG?

2023-03-17 22:38

yes, it was BULGARIA who did not get paid

2023-03-18 15:19

arab money regulations aren't complicated like chinese

2023-03-18 05:25

Pretty cool.

Yes

2023-03-18 13:27

right in the middle of player break nice idea

Right at the start of the second season u mean

2023-03-17 21:04

player break has changed its after blast groups and just before epl 18

The summer break is from June 12-July 9 this year hltv.org/news/34153/csppa-official-summe..

No break if you want 1$mil.

2023-03-17 21:59

wowzer

dota2 15kk $ ^_^

cuz dota is more relevant in arabia

2023-03-17 23:17

ez win for Imperial

lol

2023-03-17 21:55

Hopefully players and orgs will have the balls to not go.

14 replies

are you watching esl and playing faceit?

2023-03-17 21:07

10 replies

don't tell him

2023-03-17 21:57

What alternative does he have? To not watch it? Still sad that people who don't care about human rights own it.

2023-03-17 23:39

8 replies

yes, grow some balls and watch only blast and t2 tournaments.

2023-03-17 23:48

While i agree that the Saudis have a terrible track record with human rights, the whole idea of boycotting is very hypocritical. If you have any kind of smart phone, certain brands of clothing, even get a coffee from starbucks you are contributing to the abuse of human rights. Many many more cases as well sadly. Each to their own though. Not hating on you.

2023-03-18 03:48

6 replies

+1 This is true, unfortunately.

2023-03-18 09:34

Ofc we have right to not like certain things and even boycott, but we don't have alternative to e.g. Smartphones. Argument "So stop using electronics because most are from China" is bullshit, like I have any choice here. If I would stop using computers I would be excluded from todays world sadly. Using something doesn't mean that you can't criticize certain things. Clothing and Coffee is a bit easier topic, because you would actually find some alternatives, maybe not as good for example but you would.

2023-03-18 10:27

China? Not sure where you got that from. It has to do what is in the batteries and how it is being mined, cobalt. Portable applications will mostly have a cobalt oxide positive electrode and a graphite carbon in the negative electrode. I am not hating on anyone, do whatever you want but people who want to boycott things for the abuse of human rights well they better at least be informed. Slacktivism is the correct word for it.

2023-03-18 14:42

lol. read my previous comments pls. i was mocking that position.

2023-03-18 11:55

"Better not try at all I guess" Gosh, you're being so encouraging towards ethical living.

2023-03-18 13:15

You said it not me.

2023-03-18 14:45

cry

2023-03-17 21:33

esl and faceit already owned by saudis bro

2023-03-17 21:39

Dont go to events held in the US then

2023-03-17 23:33

Invite OG pls

they said elite teams only

2023-03-17 21:09

+1 LOL

2023-03-17 23:15

10k viewers for this tournament, they are just givingfree money no add reveneu at all

2023-03-17 21:05

u think saudis are trying to make money with this one?

Nice

Any female's teams participating?

2023-03-17 21:06

they said elite teams

I guess no Team Liquid then.

2023-03-17 21:52

+1 also they probably wont go anyway

2023-03-17 22:00

They will go and donate all monies to some LGBT support group ☺️☺️☺️🥰🥰🥰🥳🥳🥳

2023-03-18 06:58

B-b-b-burnnn

2023-03-18 01:49

haram in saudi arabia

2023-03-17 23:23

skip

Crazy prizepool tbh , doubt it would workout unless you get some decent teams

They could afford making it with spirit academy vs into the breach as the only match of the tournament, dw about them

2023-03-18 13:25

Skipping

lesgo

Saudi Arabia, n1ce!

2023-03-17 21:10

neat. hope the teams actually are "elite" and the prize money doesnt have some terrible distribution like this event was hltv.org/events/4160/plg-grand-slam-2018

2023-03-17 21:11

Liquid will decline probably, last time they played on blast world finals they had to make twitter post, heroic might too idk twitter.com/TeamLiquid/status/1602714400..

2023-03-17 21:16

thorins rant on this had me in stitches

2023-03-17 21:35

>dude let me tell you about how your country should operate

2023-03-17 23:56

source 2 loading doubters

2023-03-17 21:12

gamer paradise v2?

No mouz no ence no vitality and no og gg

2023-03-17 21:18

Unlucko, also no atk cuz israeli coach and also no sangal cuz israeli manager Alrhough I doubt the teams you listed will attend inless they won't qualify for ESL or bring substitutes

2023-03-17 23:00

A lot of people don’t realize this. One of the biggest reasons why this tournament should be ignored 100%.

2023-03-17 23:13

I think they might get special visas

2023-03-18 04:17

100% noobs like IG International will be invited to this tournament

2023-03-17 21:20

V4 Future Festival number 2

2023-03-17 21:21

top teams will boycott because of bad PR going to saudi despite the huge prize money. Are FALCONS an elite team? xd

2023-03-17 21:22

watch eg get invited&go there

2023-03-17 21:29

if they do qualifiers for it then no chance xd

hltv.org/events/6863/esl-pro-league-seas.. Actually eg are playing on epl18 so idk what top orgs are gonna play this one,

2023-03-17 21:34

yeah it clashes with first week... so any teams in group A/B cant play it

2023-03-17 21:37

I don't think so, more events coming in KSA in the future 100%, plus ESL owners is Saudi Arabia, so i guess teams don't want bad relationship with biggest TO in CS? Plus orgs with R6 and D2 will attend 100%. Question is what to do with players from Israel?

2023-03-17 21:36

yeah thats true about saudi owning ESL but its different having to play events in saudi... remember BLAST? thats why they had to host in Abu Dhabi instead... it will be good for elite russian teams to be invited I guess

2023-03-17 21:45

They will have to bring substitutes because currently israeli citizens cannot enter saudi arabia But i doubt teams like vita, mouz, og will attend unless they wont play at esl s18

2023-03-17 23:02

W Saudi Arabia as always. Hope to see more events there in the future. Good investment

2023-03-17 21:46

(e) sportwashing

2023-03-17 21:32

Finally, something new!

6 day event for 1 mill... uhh.. whoever comes first to the location = win i guess :D Please teams, DON`T ARRIVE TO THE LOCATION 1-2 DAYS BEFORE...

EZ MONEY FOR NIP

12 elite teams? Good, it means navi will miss this one!

NICEEEEE SAUDI WELCOME 💙

Interesting

2023-03-17 21:38

ELITE TEAMS? LIKE EG?

Imperial for viewership purposes please

2023-03-17 21:49

500k group stage 100k final

2023-03-17 21:51

POG

gross

2023-03-17 21:54

if saudi really wants to take over csgo all they have to do is make it a 5 mill prize pool.

2023-03-17 22:05

another ethical tournament

2023-03-17 22:08

Meanwhile major still also 1 milion

2023-03-17 22:13

no different than blast abu dhabi

Hell yeah

2023-03-17 22:22

I HEKKING LOVE SAUDI ARABIA

Pog

2023-03-17 22:32

Waiting for Tel Aviv TOURNAMENT with team like Tricked , Apex,500 and Eyeballers all for 10 000 000 USD 🙏

2023-03-17 22:37

#ggforall

2023-03-17 22:39

Love me some sportswashing!

2023-03-17 23:09

Interesting to see what is their definiton of "elite teams". I'm glad that there are someone else than ESL and Blast doing big tournaments. Even Saudi people are better than none.

2023-03-17 23:16

ESL is heavily involved in this, read the article.

Oh true. Nvm then.

2023-03-18 09:47

esl is owned by Saudis

2023-03-18 10:50

Its more about not being a part of the partner system. But as I read the article again, it seems that it will be somewhat tied to ESL events.

2023-03-18 12:03

The invited teams list is going to be a joke lol. Let's see how much of a joke the list will be though...

OK Guess. SA has a long way to go, but it's better than 20 years ago. MBS is a douche but he's still improved the place. Maybe this will help improve it even more.

2023-03-17 23:18

just 1 million comon guys we know you are rich look at dota and their prize pool

2023-03-17 23:40

The scene needs more events like ESL in terms of sized tournaments. Not length though. Obviously, the Pro scene needs to be involved for any big time tournament but we have enough invited team tournaments where I don't think money will make it any more interesting at this point. Even though most will never win a qualifier to enter a big tournament you need those in order to keep the scene excited to a degree.

2023-03-18 00:01

Is this still a charity event?

2023-03-18 00:12

xaxaxaxaxa, players getting kashoggi meat for dinner

2023-03-18 00:57

Thanks Deutschland for selling ESL to these.. ah well dont wanna get banned. thanks

2023-03-18 01:40

All these people talking about morality have never experienced the real world or any sort of hardship. Reality is money is money.

2023-03-18 01:46

Thought your name was mooses lel

2023-03-18 02:13

This devalues majors so much. I wish majors are something special, but they simply are not. Shitty structure with BO1s, not that special prizepool. Sad...

2023-03-18 02:16

2023-03-18 14:31

I swear this is being hosted because there is this Saudi prince who likes gaming/anime

2023-03-18 02:18

Prince Salman is a huge fan of Dota steamcommunity.com/id/Abdullah_Al_Saud

2023-03-18 02:23

yeah this guy, who visits the internationals and such youtu.be/7ZzH4TIG15Q video for reference

2023-03-18 06:59

The Saudi's have billions upon billions invested into gaming companies through the PIF....

2023-03-18 02:38

Yeah I know that they invest in gaming/esports sectors, but I was referencing this peculiar saudi prince mentioned in #195 who is an actual gamer. Watch the video I attached in #225 for context.

2023-03-18 07:05

This is really really good for CS:GO and will most likely push prize pools up overall, not sure why everyone is so mad at this. The more tournaments the better for the scene.

2023-03-18 02:37

actually not its imo to much lans it melts in and get boring i even think should be one major in year to make it special

2023-03-18 14:30

lets hope teams from mena can actually get their own qualifiers to see this tournament.

2023-03-18 02:51

No party after the win unluko

2023-03-18 03:21

OIL money mens))))))))))))))))))))))))

2023-03-18 04:05

So it begins, oh wait the Saudis already own 80% of tier 1

2023-03-18 05:04

T1 e-sports has been going there for a while unfortunately. And orgs aren't shy on turning down the blood money.

2023-03-18 06:52

IKR, lmao

2023-03-18 07:54

good luck hfhf

2023-03-18 07:15

Wowwww

2023-03-18 07:35

Let the hate begin.. we just honest people who love gaming and support it.

2023-03-18 09:55

Lets see the human rights supporter teams, cast, players now. Will money talk or not

2023-03-18 11:15

500k for a t3 team... nice

2023-03-18 11:47

Yay, let's get more and more Saudi Arabia into e-sports, so happy with what ESL is doing...

2023-03-18 13:06

In case people missed the last gamers8 event, many popular orgs and players took part in other games. I dont think orgs will turn away from this opportunity. youtu.be/lqSbTSBi07E

2023-03-18 13:21

only milion? cmon go wesg put 5 or 10 then maybe somebody care

2023-03-18 14:25

I will boycott.

SPORTSWASHING