Saudi Arabia said on Monday it would organize an Esports World Cup starting next year, the latest boost to a sector Riyadh hopes will create tens of thousands of local jobs.
"The Esports World Cup is the natural next step in Saudi Arabia's journey to become the premier global hub for gaming and Esports," the Gulf kingdom's de facto ruler, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, said in a statement.
Prince Mohammed is said to be an avid gamer partial to the Call of Duty series, and Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in the sector since the 38-year-old became first in line to the throne six years ago.