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The 2023 World Esports Championship finals of the International Esports Federation, (IESF), officially began on August 25, with a grand opening ceremony at the Palace of Culture of Iasi, Romania. The record number of 111 nations from six continents qualified to compete for the WE Championship trophy and national pride. The competition will end on September 4.
The opening ceremony, hosted by esports presenter James Banks, and former professional player Jon Kefaloukos featured electrifying performances, fireworks and a drone display that celebrated the historical and youthful energy in Iasi as well as IESF’s commitment to reaching international audiences and diversity. The WE Championships Ceremony featured a parade featuring 5,000 fans and highlighted IESF’s rich tradition as the only international esports event where athletes represent their national flags.
IESF President Vlad Marinescu stated during the ceremony: “As a global community, we are gathered here in the vibrant city, Iasi, for the 15th World Esports Championship. We celebrate not only a tournament but a family that is united by our love of competitive gaming.” Let us not forget that Esports aren’t just about winning and losing, but about creating connections across cultures and continents.
Mihai Cirica, the Mayor of Iasi, was also present at this ceremony and spoke about how “Esports has a deep resonance with our community”. I want to thank everyone who has worked so hard to make this possible. We embrace together the values of unity and competition that IESF represents. “Let’s make history in the global Esports Arena for Iasi.”
IESF organized a pre-ceremony special event in honor of Romania’s rich culture and history. The CS:GO song was performed by a philharmonic ensemble for the first ever. The WE Championship this year will be different from any other. It will feature concerts and performances by top artists, such as Armin Van Buuren, a ComicCon Festival, and activations in partnership with IESF’s partner FitGMR, to ensure mental-physical well-being during the competition.
The top esports competitors will compete in six games: CS: GO (the featured title), Tekken 7 (the featured game), Mobile Legends Bang Bang, Dota 2 and eFootballTM(tm). A USD 500,000 grand prize is at stake. During the WE Championship in 2023, all countries participating with live results and scheduling can be accessed via IESF’s World Esports Championship.
