Esports World Cup Foundation CEO Ralf Reichert has addressed criticism directed at the Esports World Cup (EWC) over its ties with Saudi Arabia, encouraging sceptics to attend the event in person to form their own opinions.
Speaking with The Esports Radar during the 2025 edition of the EWC, Reichert issued both a challenge and an invitation to those who have boycotted or criticised the event.
“It is only possible to build this because everyone works together,” Reichert said. “It is only possible because the players want to come, the clubs are supporting it, the game publishers are supporting it, the esports industry is supporting as a whole, and there are still obviously people out there who have a certain picture of Saudi Arabia and talk about it.”
The CEO refers to criticism faced by the EWC from human rights groups and parts of the gaming community, with accusations of sportswashing to improve the country’s international image despite its human rights record.
The Esports World Cup Foundation is partly funded by the Saudi government, which has raised concerns over direct state involvement and influence. Critics have also highlighted risks for LGBTQ+ players and fans under Saudi law, as well as broader restrictions on freedom of expression, prompting some members of the esports community to boycott the competition.
Street Fighter 6 professional Christopher “ChrisCCH” Hancock declined his qualification spot, while Apex Legends pro Hambino refused to compete. GeoGuessr withdrew entirely after community backlash.
Reichert drew on his own past experience, saying he once held similar assumptions about the country. “I was at a similar position five years ago, so well, I didn’t know about the country,” he stated. “You guys are here now, so you could say first hand: this is very different than you think, and I think experiencing is a much better strategy than judging.”
There are also cases of individuals who initially distanced themselves from the event but later reversed their position. One prominent example is League of Legends personality and co‑streamer Marc “Caedrel” Lamont, who had previously declined to co‑stream the EWC and voiced support for others boycotting it. In 2025, however, he agreed to co‑stream the tournament’s League of Legends competition.
Concluding his remarks, the CEO encouraged greater engagement from the global esports community: “We just want to invite everyone to come, see some of the best esports of their lives, and get a first hand impression of the Kingdom’s hosting capabilities.”
Reichert shared these views during a broader interview discussing the EWC’s strategies for reaching a global audience, which you can read in full in this link.
