‘We’re here to win’: Livin and Lunar, the Saudi champions competing at the EWC

PARIS: In Paris, the Esports World Cup is about far more than video games. It is also a stage where influence, national image, and power are on display as Saudi Arabia seeks to cement its place at the center of the global esports landscape.

By bringing its flagship competition outside Riyadh for the first time, Saudi Arabia has turned the French capital into an international showcase for its sporting and geopolitical ambitions.

Over the next seven weeks, more than 2,000 players from around 100 countries will compete for a title that represents far more than a trophy.

Although Paris is hosting this third edition, Saudi Arabia remains the competition’s driving force. The Kingdom has the two strongest contenders for the EWC Club Championship, the tournament’s premier event, in which teams earn points across multiple titles to determine the world’s best.

Defending champions Team Falcons are aiming for a third consecutive title. Competing in 18 tournaments, they boast one of the deepest rosters and have established themselves as a benchmark across a wide range of titles, including Rocket League, Counter-Strike 2, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Overwatch.

Alongside them, Twisted Minds continue their rise. After claiming titles in PUBG: Battlegrounds and Call of Duty: Warzone last year, the club qualified in nine disciplines and have equally lofty ambitions.

They will face fierce competition, particularly from French side Team Vitality, backed by their home crowd, and the seasoned Team Liquid, both determined to end Saudi Arabia’s dominance.

Female esports will also take center stage through the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Women’s Invitational, the EWC’s only such tournament. The competition brings together the world’s top 16