HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan 170 | Chairman, Saudi Esports FederationOn this episode, we were honored to welcome HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation.We explore the remarkable evolution of Saudi Arabia’s gaming and esports sector from the federation’s establishment in 2018 to its central role in positioning the Kingdom as a leading global esports destination. The conversation traces Saudi Arabia’s hosting of Gamers8, the Kingdom’s flagship international esports event, for two consecutive years, followed by the launch of the Esports World Cup, hosted in Saudi Arabia and delivered by the Esports World Cup Foundation. Over the past two years, the tournament has rapidly emerged as a global phenomenon, welcoming more than 3 million visitors.Prince Faisal shares insights into the groundbreaking Gamers Without Borders charity initiative, the growing participation of women in Saudi gaming, and the infrastructure being built to nurture local talent into world-class professionals. The discussion also addresses global criticism, the physical and mental demands of professional esports, and the ambitious vision to establish Saudi Arabia as the world’s natural hub for esports by 2030.0:00 Intro1:33 From GSA Cup to Gamers84:56 Gaming for Charity8:13 Esports World Cup: Growth and Statistics12:15 Becoming Chairman20:18 Esports Career Pathways in Saudi Arabia25:29 Women in Gaming30:25 Is Esports a Real Sport?35:46 Visa Programs Infrastructure39:07 Mega Events vs. Grassroots41:50 Global Game Publishers45:51 The Future of Esports in the Olympics48:15 Personal Motivation53:40 Telling Saudi Stories56:02 Prince Faisal’s All-Time Favorite Games59:04 Vision for 20301:02:37 Changing Perceptions Conclusion