IESF President Vlad Marinescu officially handed over the IESF flag to the Saudi delegation in Romania after the Closing Ceremony of the 15th World Esports Championship.

It is no secret that the Middle Eastern nation is eyeing to be a global force in the esports industry, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launching a national gaming and esports strategy to create 39,000 jobs and boost the country’s gross domestic product by $13.3 billion (£10.6 billion/€12.3 billion) by 2030.

"We are thrilled to host the IESF’s 16th World Esports Championship in Saudi Arabia in 2024 to demonstrate our strong support for IESF," HRH Prince Faisal Bin Bandar Bin Sultan Al Saud, President of the Saudi Esports Federation.

"A warm welcome is extended to esports enthusiasts from around the globe.

"Our unwavering commitment lies in delivering a world-class event that not only reflects our passion for esports but also underscores our dedication to its expansion.

"Together, we look forward to creating an unforgettable championship experience in the heart of Riyadh."

Marinescu said it was an "honour" announce Saudi Arabia as the host, and is looking forward to keeping the "momentum going and continue to grow and promote esports on the global stage".

The Philippines concluded the Championship in Iași by wining the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang title.

Other gold medallists were Kyrgyzstan, who took the PUBG Mobile top spot, while the first place in eFootball™ 2023 went to Iran.

Pakistan triumphed in the Tekken7 while Dota 2 belonged to Mongolia.

Sweden and The Netherlands emerged victorious in the men's and women's CS:GO competitions, respectively.

According to IESF, more than 601 players from 111 countries competed in Romania.

Side quests included a panel discussion from IESF partner FitGMR, a Comic Con event, and a three-day music festival.

 "We are proud to crown the Philippines as the Grand Champion and congratulate all our finalists for their outstanding performances throughout the tournament," IESF general secretary Boban Totovski said.

"This event further cemented IESF as the home of international esports.

"We would like to thank our athletes, the city of Iași, our partners, and everyone who made it possible to unite the World Esports Family and make history in Romania."