Abu Dhabi: G2 Esports, based in Germany, defeated the Netherlands’ Team Liquid in an all-European match to win the counter strike esports championship and receive $500,000 (Dh1.8 million) in the Blast Premier World Final in Abu Dhabi.
The highest prize money for a gaming competition in Abu Dhabi was awarded during the five-day competition at Etihad Arena on Yas Island. There were hundreds of passionate gamers and esports enthusiasts gathered at the biggest and most popular counter-strike esports event ever staged in the Middle East.
G2-0
YOUR BLAST WORLD FINAL CHAMPIONS 🏆 pic.twitter.com/SYLtXTl5Mq
— G2 Esports (@G2esports) December 18, 2022
The Australian sensation of G2 Esports, Mr. Justin Savage, was thrilled to watch his team become the first counter-strike champions in Middle Eastern history.
“It’s a great feeling to win the World Final. We were all in a positive mindset this week and everyone played out of their minds and are happy to have won. The crowd was really good today and the Etihad Arena was really cool. All the fans really made a lot of noise which created a vibrant atmosphere for this match,” Mr. Savage remarked.
The event showcased the world’s best players in action as well as some of the biggest names in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia’s content creator BanderitaX, Team Falcons, Nasr Esports, and Galaxy Racer’s Fortnite players Souriano’ and ‘g1ntl’.
The gaming fan zone featured a variety of activities in addition to kiosks highlighting the educational benefits of gaming. The industry is expected to grow to $5 billion by 2025 in the Mena region.