To celebrate 35 years of formal diplomatic ties between China and Saudi Arabia during the "China-Saudi Year of Culture", Riyadh is making esports a focus of major cultural events in July and August. One of the largest esports carnivals, the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC), just concluded in Riyadh, and the Gulf country, which wants to be a world esports hub, is seeking to deepen people-to-people connections, especially among younger generations, with other esports giants such as China. Two Chinese teams, Chengdu AG and Guangzhou TTG, competed in the EWC final of Chinese-made game Honor of Kings. The chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, and Chinese Ambassador Chang Hua attended the championship match, won by the Chengdu team. The event attracted thousands of enthusiastic game lovers, including former Asian swimming champion Zhang Yuhan. After the final showdown, Al Saud joined Ambassador Chang and the winning team on a tour of the Chinese exhibition area set up as part of the "China-Saudi esports Culture Week," which was set up within the EWC venue. Al Saud, who also serves as the Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, voiced hope for deeper esports cooperation between the two countries. Esports Week in Saudi Arabia features artistic performances and exhibitions on esports exchanges between the two countries, as well as Chinese gaming innovations. Mike McCabe, the Chief Operating Officer of the Esports World Cup Foundation, says Chinese fans are an inspiration to audiences around the world. Shotlist: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - July 26, 2025: 1. Various of 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC) venue, Honor of Kings final in process; Chang Hua, Chinese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia; Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, chairman, Saudi E-sports Federation, watching match; 2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese, dubbed in English) Yi Nuo, team leader, Chengdu AG Honor of Kings Squad (partially overlaid with shot 3): "I'm still really happy. You can really feel how seriously Saudi Arabia takes esports. The scale of the event is huge, and we've come across so many different teams."; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 3. Chengdu AG Honor of Kings Squad winning EWC championship; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 4. EWC match venue, audience; 5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese, dubbed in English) Zhang Yuhan. former Asian Games Swimming Champion (partially overlaid with shot 6): "Traditional sports are more about pushing the limits of physical strength. But here, I saw how composed and steady the players were, while the crowd was intensely enthusiastic."; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 6. Various of audience celebrating victory, competing teams leaving stage; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 7. Various of Chang, Al Saud, EWC champion team, posing for group photos; 8. SOUNDBITE (Chinese, dubbed in English) Chang Hua, Chinese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (ending with shot 9): "Through the performance of these young Chinese players, people from Saudi Arabia and around the world can better understand China and its youth. This year, we've also implemented a visa-free policy for Saudi passport holders. We hope more Saudis, especially young people, will come to China to see its beauty firsthand."; 9. Winning team shaking hands, hugging with opponents; 10. Various of Chang, Al Saud, watching Sichuan Opera performances; 11. SOUNDBITE (Arabic, dubbed in English) Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, chairman, Saudi Esports Federation (ending with shot 12): "There is great potential for stronger ties between our two nations, especially among the youth. Sixty-seven percent of Saudi youth identify as esports fans, and I know many young Chinese do as well. This is a great opportunity to deepen youth-to-youth exchanges, just as important as government-level diplomacy."; 12. Various of China-Saudi Esports Culture Week exhibitions; 13. SOUNDBITE (English) Mike McCabe, Chief Operating Officer, Esports World Cup Foundation (partially overlaid with shot 14): "I think China has done an amazing job in really elevating esports on a global stage as well as domestically in China. We've been lucky enough to come and see some of the incredible esports events in China. What really amazes me is the passion of the fans in China. We see fans traveling across the country in China to follow their club and to be able to see them compete in the biggest games in esports. From our perspective, we want to see more Chinese clubs take part in the EWC, and we want to see more Chinese games be part of EWC."; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 14. Various of Honor of Kings competition in process, Chengdu AG squad celebrating victory; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 15. Various of China-Saudi Esports Culture Week exhibitions. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]