The Gamers Without Borders is back for its fourth edition and for the first time, it will stage an all-female Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) tournament.
The world’s biggest esports charity event will begin on 27 April 2023 and run for six weeks, with a prize pool of $10 million for humanitarian aid. The festival will feature a large variety of games such as CS:GO, Starcraft and Rocket League. Competing teams also stand a chance to qualify for Gamers8: The Land of Heroes.
While they are still in the process of announcing the invited competitors, some that have been confirmed are Nigma Galaxy, Big Equipa and Navi Javelins. Open qualifiers, however, are set to begin on 11 April 2023.
Since its inception in 2020, the festival has already donated $30 million for partners such as Direct Relief, UNICEF and the International Medical Corps.
But their drive for positive change does not stop there. This year, six teams will battle it out in a first-of-its-kind all-women CS:GO tournament.
Chairman of the event’s organisers, Saudi Esports Federation, Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, expressed his excitement for this new addition: “One of the best features of gaming and esports is that it provides equal opportunities for everyone without any bias or restrictions.
“We are furthering our commitment to providing an inclusive gaming and esports environment that encourages and supports female gamers from all backgrounds,” he added.
This breakthrough is especially groundbreaking in Saudi Arabia, where women’s rights have become a huge point of contention. In a male-dominated industry, the inclusion and focus on the successful women in this tournament will help raise awareness in not only the country, but also around the world.
Money can help some causes, but for others, just showing support is a step forward. The Saudi Esports Federation is doing both through the Gamers Without Borders festival.
