Esports Awards Criticized Heavily

Written by Dante Uzel on 11 June 2024 12:59

The Esports Awards recently announced a three-year deal with the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF), sparking a significant reaction on Twitter. The agreement will relocate the annual awards ceremony to Riyadh for the inaugural Esports World Cup in the summer of 2024, with a prize pool exceeding $60m across 19 game titles. Scheduled for August 24th, 2024, in Riyadh, the 2024 Esports Awards aims to award in esports globally, allowing fans to vote on award finalists starting June 27th.

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However, the partnership has faced criticism from various industry members and fans, highlighting Saudi Arabia's increasing influence in esports and reigniting debates over the ethics of accepting Saudi funding due to the country's human rights record, particularly concerning women and LGBTQ+ individuals. Some individuals associated with the Esports Awards, including PGL CEO Silviu Stroie, caster Interrro, and host Goldenboy, have resigned in response to the controversy.