Esports Awards All-In on Esports World Cup

All this and more in esports and gaming news for the week ending June 9, 2024

Jun 09, 2024

Esports Awards in three-year pact with Saudi-backed Esports World Cup. Credit: Esports Awards

This week the Esports Awards announced that it had signed a three year contract with the Esports World Cup Foundation for its annual awards to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, starting in 2024.

To say that the announcement was received with derision and negativity would be the understatement of the decade.

Several members of its panel (the people who help select the award nominees) and longtime on-screen hosts and talent resigned on Friday. In addition, those in the North American collegiate scene who participated in last year’s The Scholars awards expressed their disappointment in what appeared to be a move to abandon North America and the awards. Members of the global LGBTQ+ community and those who support them also railed against the announcement, noting that (we’re paraphrasing here) the organization had sold out its principles in favor of a lucrative deal with the Saudi government.

All in all, the announcement crashed and burned like the hindenburg.

But, let’s address the elephant in the room: my stance on the Esports Awards. I posted the following statement about receiving any future nominations or awards going forward:

“Here is my official stance on the Esports World Cup Foundation and Esports Awards partnering as a journalist and the co-founder of THE ESPORTS ADVOCATE:
“While it is highly unlikely that our publication/reporters would be nominated this year- let alone win an award - given our coverage of the Esports World Cup Foundation, ESL FACEIT Group - EFG, and the Saudi government, I respectfully decline any and all participation. It would be unethical to accept an award sponsored by a Saudi government-backed project (they say it is funded by a grant) when less than 20 miles from the site of the Esports World Cup, political prisoners are being mistreated and the government being linked to the murder and dismemberment of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
“Other writers in our organization are free to make their own decisions on accepting/declining awards.”

It is my view that it would be wrong to accept an award funded by any government; If the government in the UK, China, Russia, the United States, Brazil, Dubai, France, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Ukraine, Israel, [insert your favorite country here], were funding the Esports Awards this year, we would have to have the same response. There are of course other issues—like how the government treats dissidents and journalists—but at the end of the day we will separate ourselves from any situation that could compromise our ability to present the truth in an unbiased way and free of entanglements.

That’s my opinion, but I'd love to hear yours in the comments. Now on to this week’s news. - James Fudge.

Iraqi Lawmakers Vote to Ban PUBG Mobile

The Iraqi Parliament voted unanimously this week to ban South Korean publisher Krafton’s popular battle royale shooter game PUBG/PUBG Mobile and Epic Games’ battle royale game Fortnite—as well as any other violent games that "threaten social security, morals, civics and education" in Iraq society. While lawmakers have asked the country’s communications ministry and media commission to begin blocking access to these games, a full ban will need approval by the cabinet.

The news follows comments by prominent Iraqi clerics who have strongly urged young people to stop spending all their time playing PUBG and watching football. Media in the country has also been reporting for months an increase in marital disputes created and/or exacerbated by men being “addicted” to playing the popular battle royale game.

PUBG Mobile is ultra popular around the world; it has generated more than $5B USD in revenue since its release in 2018, and has experienced more than 1B downloads, according to data from AppMagic.

Former Toronto Defiant Team Manager Joins the Esports World Cup Foundation

Stella Park has joined the Esports World Cup Foundation as its new club & player manager. Park most recently did contact work as a player manager this year in the Valorant Champions Tour Pacific (Valorant) ecosystem and in 2023 as a runner/translator and OC talent team assistant during Worlds 2023.

In her new role, she’ll be in charge of overseeing the day-to-day operations for assigned esports clubs and players, create a positive environment for teams, manage budgets, handle team contracts, oversee league regulations, and serve as a communication bridge between players, coaches, management, and external partners. Park has relocated from South Korea to Riyadh to take on the new role.

Prior to joining the Esports World Cup Foundation and working as a contractor for Riot properties, Park served as the team manager for OverActive Media's Overwatch League team Toronto Defiant, as a social media manager at Gen.G Esports, a team manager for OWL team Philadelphia Fusion, and as a community manager for T1 Entertainment & Sports.

The Esports World Cup Foundation’s program for teams and the Esports World Cup are being funded by a “grant” from the Saudi Arabian government. DreamHack and all of its events are operated by ESL FACEIT Group, which is owned by Savvy Games Group—a gaming company owned by the Saudi government-controlled sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund. Saudi Arabia’s leader, HRH Crown Prince MBS is the chairman of Savvy Games Group.

🚌 People on the Move 🚌

Kevin Hitt joins Sportskeeda as its new esports and gaming insider.
Joseph Jang is the new VP of esports at 100 Thieves.
Renato Perdigão is no longer the LEC content producer at Riot Games.
Michael Pattison appointed vice president at LIGHTSPEED STUDIOS.
Steve Isaacs named senior manager, programs and partnerships at Epic Games.
Matheus Vivian joins the Sandbox DAO as an advisor.
David Neichel joins ESIC as a member of the Global Esports Advisory Board.
Robbie Douek joins the ESIC Global Esports Industry Advisory Board.
Devin Radford is appointed VP of business development at Homa.
Marisa Tenorio takes on the role of coordinator of activities at the CHSAA.

📰 In Other News 📰

📱 Valorant Mobile approved in China.

🎮 Valorant coming to PlayStation, Xbox consoles, beta test planned.

🛑 Twitch streamer jailed by Russian government.

🙏🏼 T1 begs Riot for help with DDoS attacks during LoL streams.

👓 Karmine Corp unveils 3,000-seat esports stadium.

🤝🏼 Xsolla inks deal with BANDAI NAMCO for India.

✅ Lima to host the Global Esports Games from 2024 to 2028.

🏆 Teamfight Tactics Global Championship for Set 11 launching in July.

⚖ Uvalde families sue META and Activision Blizzard.

👊🏼 Call of Duty Black Ops 6 on Xbox Game Pass at launch.

The Fudge Retort

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