Teams battle for $2.5m humanitarian aid prize pool in Saudi Esports Federation virtual competition Open qualifiers for the North America and European sections take place on May 17-18 RIYADH: Gamers Without Borders, the world’s largest charitable electronic sports event, will conclude its 2023 edition with a men’s Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) tournament featuring a humanitarian aid prize pool of $2.5 million. For the latest updates, follow us on Twitter @ArabNewsSport The North American section of CS:GO will involve open qualifiers, a best-of-one matchup throughout the open bracket, and a best-of-three final match. Open qualifiers for the North America section are underway. CS:GO’s European section similarly features open qualifiers, a best-of-one matchup throughout the open bracket, and a best-of-three final match. Open qualifiers for the European section begin at 6 p.m. Saudi Arabian time on Wednesday, May 17. Last month, NAVI Javelins triumphed at the first all-women CS:GO tournament at GWB after defeating Ninjas in Pyjamas 3-0 in the final to claim a $1 million prize for charity from the tournament’s $2.5 million prize pool. Held virtually by the Saudi Esports Federation, the men’s CS:GO prize pool at GWB will be donated to humanitarian aid partners Direct Relief, IMC, UNICEF, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, World Food Programme (WFP) and UNHCR. The funds will be directed to addressing a variety of urgent humanitarian needs in the world today. Faisal bin Homran, head of esports at the Saudi Esports Federation, said: “The men’s Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament at Gamers Without Borders will bring to a conclusion another series of incredible esports titles and action at the world’s largest charitable esports event. Our fourth edition of Gamers Without Borders has been greatly received by the worldwide gaming and esports community and furthers the Saudi Esports Federation’s illustrious standing in the global scene.” From a six-week period which began on April 10, GWB has hosted five tournaments across four major gaming titles: StarCraft II, CS:GO (with separate men and women’s events), Rocket League, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege. Winning teams and players from StarCraft II, Rocket League, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege have advanced to the finals at Gamers8: The Land of Heroes in Riyadh this summer. The world’s biggest gaming and esports festival starts on July 6 for eight weeks at a purpose-built arena at Boulevard Riyadh City. Gamers8: The Land of Heroes has a $45 million total prize pool, triple that of Gamers8 last year. Players and teams participating at GWB’s 2023 CS:GO, Rocket League, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege tournaments have been competing for a $10 million charity prize pool.