Ah, the Esports Awards 2024 Riyadh—a night where the digital gladiators of our time swap their gaming chairs for tuxedos and stilettos.
Hosted at the Four Seasons Kingdom Centre, this year’s event was as much a spectacle as it was a celebration of the best in esports. Think of it as the Oscars, but with fewer dramatic pauses and more fist pumps.
Riot Games, the behemoth behind titles like VALORANT, once again flexed its muscles and walked away with an armful of awards.
They didn’t just win; they took home the Esports Publisher of the Year, Esports Game of the Year for VALORANT, and a trophy for Content of the Year thanks to their collaboration with NewJeans for the “GODS” music video.
And as if that wasn’t enough, their Teamfight Tactics also nabbed Esports Breakthrough Game of the Year.
If this were a golf tournament, they’d be the Tiger Woods of esports—dominant, unapologetic, and clearly at the top of their game.
The night wasn’t just about games, though. It was also a showcase of the personalities who make esports the thrilling, chaotic, and utterly addictive world that it is.
Dota 2’s Stanislav “Malr1ne” Potorak snagged the Esports Breakthrough Player of the Year, while Red Bull, the company that seems to be behind every extreme sport known to humankind, took home Esports Commercial Partner of the Year.
Guiding us through this whirlwind of pixels and applause were hosts Hector “Hecz” Rodriguez of OpTic Texas fame, legendary esports caster Chris Puckett, and Call of Duty royalty Seth “Scump” Abner.
The trio kept the evening rolling smoothly, with just the right mix of humour, humility, and hype. And let’s not forget the red carpet—if you ever wanted proof that esports is a big deal, the sight of former Manchester United captain Patrice Evra mingling with the likes of YouTuber Casper Lee should settle that debate.
Here’s a rundown of the big winners who left Riyadh a little heavier with their newly acquired hardware:
Entertainment
- Esports Game of the Year: VALORANT
- Esports Mobile Game of the Year (presented by HONOR): Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
- Esports Personality of the Year (presented by Qiddiya): Seth “Scump” Abner
- Esports Content Group of the Year: S8UL Esports
- Streamer of the Year: Samy “Rivers” Rivera
Industry
- Esports Commercial Partner of the Year: Red Bull
- Esports Content & Coverage Platform of the Year: Liquipedia
- Esports Publisher of the Year: Riot Games
- Esports Breakthrough Game of the Year: Teamfight Tactics
- Esports Community Leader of the Year: Marc Robert “Caedrel” Lamont
- Lifetime Achievement in Esports: Jens Hilgers
Creative
- Esports Content of the Year: GODS ft. NewJeans (뉴진스) | Worlds 2023 Anthem – League of Legends
- Esports Creative Team of the Year: Team Liquid
Pro
- Esports Breakthrough Player of the Year: Stanislav “Malr1ne” Potorak
On-Air
- Esports Analyst of the Year: Jacob “Pimp” Winneche
And then, there were the “Ones To Watch”—the next generation of esports talent who, if all goes well, might just be headlining this ceremony in a few years:
Ones To Watch
- Content and Creative: Z1MT Creative
- Emerging Agency: Ulti Agency
- Emerging Team: Gaimin Gladiators
- Fan Engagement: S8UL Esports
- Content Creation: Full Squad Gaming
- Emerging Region: Philippines
- Regional Ambassador: Bruno “Nobru” Goes, Brazil
The Lifetime Achievement Award, a fitting accolade for someone who’s been around since the dawn of competitive gaming, was presented by His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud to Jens Hilgers.
If you’ve ever played a video game online, chances are you’ve benefited from Hilgers’ work. He’s the guy behind ESL, G2 Esports, and Bayes Esports—names that have defined the esports landscape for nearly three decades.
As if the awards weren’t enough, the evening was punctuated with performances by musical creators Rob Landes and Marcus Veltri, who played song requests live on piano and violin.
It was the perfect soundtrack for a night that was part celebration, part reunion, and entirely unforgettable.
Mike Ashford, CEO of the Esports Awards, summed it up best: “We are deeply honoured to recognize and reward the outstanding contributions made by talented individuals in this ever-growing industry.
To the entire esports community, we are grateful for your passion, dedication, and support. A massive congratulations to all of those awarded tonight, and I can’t wait to see you at the next ceremony!”
As the Esports Awards 2024 Riyadh came to a close, it was clear that the bar for celebrating esports excellence had been raised yet again.
Thanks to partners like Oakley, Qiddiya, HONOR, and the Esports World Cup Foundation, this year’s event wasn’t just about awarding the best—it was about setting the stage for an even brighter future in esports.