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More than 10,000 eSports enthusiasts watched the action live, and 750,000 unique viewers tuned into the online finals
The International Esports Federation has concluded the 15th World Esports Championship, where the Philippines was crowned Grand Champion following ten days intense competition and a memorable closing ceremony.
Gold Medalists of WEC23:
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang – Philippines
- PUBG Mobile – Kyrgyzstan
- eFootball – Iran
- Tekken7 – Pakistan
- CS:GO Sweden
- CS:GO Female (Netherlands)
- Dota 2 – Mongolia
The global eSports audience was engaged for ten days and broke the viewership record set last year with 700,796 viewers at the Mobile Legends Grand Final. In eSports the Philippines and Indonesia have once again shown their strength, reinforcing their position as global leaders both in terms of national success and popularity.
Philippines: Grand Champions
The eSports championship saw 601 eSports athletes from 111 different countries competing in six games: CS:GO (Cyber-Sword Online), Dota 2 (Mobile Legends: Bang Bang), eFootball (2023), Tekken 7 (PuBG Mobile), and eFootball 2023. All the action was live streamed via IESF’s YouTube and Twitch channel. The women’s CS:GO competition was also part of the championship this year, with a double the number teams compared to last year. The Netherlands emerged as the winners.
The 15th WE Championship was not just about eSports. It included panel discussions, activations, IESF partner FitGMR, and a ComicCon, which created an interactive experience for the attendees.
IESF organized a three-day festival of music during the finals, in partnership with Digital Throne – Romania’s largest pop culture festival – featuring international artists such as Armin van buuren and Lost Frequencies. IESF president Vlad Marinescu, Iasi mayor Mihai Cirica and HRH Prince Faisal Bin Bandar Bin Sultan Al Saud spoke at the extravagant closing ceremony held at the Palace of Culture. The Philippines were presented with the Grand Champion Trophy by HRH Prince Faisal Bin Bandar Bin Sultan Al Saud to honor the athletes’ efforts and performances.
Boban Totovski said, “We are happy to crown the Philippines the Grand Champions and congratulate our finalists on their outstanding performances during the tournament.” This event has further cemented IESF’s position as the international eSports home. “We would like to thank all of our athletes, the city and partners in Iasi for making it possible to bring the eSports world family together and create history in Romania.”
Brian Lim, President of the Philippine Esports Federation said, “Being a Grand Champ is a dream that Filipinos have had for a very long time. It’s a testament to what Filipinos are capable of when they work together in the most beautiful future sport.” “eSports Mabuhay Pilipinas.”
The rich cultural heritage and youthful energy of Iasi exceeded all expectations. 100,000 fans came to support their country and celebrate eSports. This solidified Romania’s place as an eSports leader.
Saudi Arabia will host the 16th World Esports Championship
Vlad Marinescu, President of the IESF and the IESF Flag, presented the IESF flag at the closing ceremony to Saudi Arabia which will be hosting the 16th World Esports Championships in 2024. It is the first time that Saudi Arabia hosts IESF flagship event where athletes compete under national flags.
The Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation HRH Prince Faisal Bin Bandar Bin Sultan Al Saud said, “We are delighted to host the IESF 16th World Esports Championships in Saudi Arabia in the year 2024 as a demonstration of our strong support for IESF.” “We extend a warm welcome to eSports fans from all over the world. We are committed to delivering an event of the highest quality that reflects not only our passion for eSports, but also our commitment to its expansion. We look forward to working together in creating a championship experience that will be unforgettable, right in the middle of Riyadh.
Marinescu stated that “as we close out a truly historical edition of the World Esports Championship it is an honour to announce Saudi Arabia the next host nation who will welcome the world’s eSports community,” Marinescu. We look forward to working together with Saudi Arabia, local organizing committees, the Saudi Esports Federation, and our amazing partners to continue the momentum and grow and promote eSports globally.
In the near future, the final announcement will be made regarding the dates for the 2024 WE Championship National & Regional Qualifiers & Finals.
