RIYADH — More than 30 of the world’s greatest gamers have confirmed their spots in $10million charity esports festival Gamers Without Borders’ opening tournament — which will promise three days of unmissable action as they go head-to-head on EA SPORTS FIFA 21! Getting under way on Saturday, the first of the gaming extravaganza’s six elite-level series tournaments will bring together a field of bona fide world champions to battle it out for a $1.5million share of the festival’s mega-prize fund. Once won, the gamers will donate the entire sum directly to humanitarian organizations leading COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts in the world’s vulnerable nations. The EA SPORTS FIFA 21 tournament will reignite one of esports most electric rivalries, with England’s Tekkz and Saudi Arabia’s MsDossary potentially en route to another unmissable clash just two years after a rollercoaster period where they collided in many of esports’ biggest events. Donovan ‘Tekkz’ Hunt has won numerous FUT 20 Champions Cup Stages in the last few years including the ePremier League 2019 (Liverpool) and FIFA eClub World Cup 2019. MsDossary was famously named 2018 FIFA eWorld Cup Champion and has won a string of top international titles since, with both men considered two of the finest FIFA competitors on the planet. Throw German gamer MoAuba into the mix — the man who defeated MsDossary in 2019’s Grand Console World Final, stopping the now 21-year-old from becoming the first ever back-to-back grand console world champion — and Gamers Without Borders’ opening tournament promises to be a show-stopping three-days!MsDossary — real name Musaed Al Dossary — said: “It’s an incredible line-up and does promise some explosive matches, so from a viewer point of view it’s something to get really excited about. “For me, it’s another chance to put myself up against the best in the world for a fantastic cause — and I’ll definitely be looking to bring that win home!” The players will face off in a GSL-style bracket format with group matches on June 19-20 and finals day on June 21, with the action starting from 1pm CEST each day. Saturday’s opening day action will be followed by a live virtual gig by Dutch DJ/producer Nicky Romero, starting at 8.30 p.m. CET. To be streamed live on the Gamers Without Borders’ YouTube, Facebook and Twitch channels, the free-to-watch gig will see the DJ/producer smash through a catalogue of massive tracks as the nine-week summer gaming extravaganza celebrates the first of its six-weeks of elite level action getting under way. This year’s second edition of Gamers Without Borders’ officially began last week with its opening community tournaments: an open-to-all online battleground for gamers of all abilities to take part in tournaments, marathons and individual matches across a whole raft of games, including Fortnite, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, PUBG MOBILE and Clash Royale. This weekend’s EA SPORTS FIFA 21 tournament marks the beginning of Gamers Without Borders’ world-famous $10million elite series, where the planet’s best esports athletes, teams and franchises go head-to-head for a share of the festival’s mammoth charity prize-fund. This year being held under the theme of ‘No One Left Behind’, all that money — plus viewer and gamer donations — will go towards vaccine distribution to those living in the world’s most vulnerable nations. — SG