With a gamer prince and oil billions, Saudi turns to esports

Saudi gamers are revelling in their country's newfound status and the eye-watering prize pools it brings. — AFP Relaxnews

Wearing headphones and anti-sweat finger sleeves, gamers from eight countries guided gun-toting avatars through a battle royale in the Saudi capital, as cheering onlookers watched the action on a big screen.

The PUBG Mobile tournament was part of Gamers8, a summer festival spotlighting Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a global esports dynamo – one that officials hope can compete with powerhouses like China and South Korea.