- FaZe Clan’s Karrigan believes it’s important to be playing in new locations around the world as Etihad Arena stages first day of competition with tickets still available to purchase for 17th and 18th December.
- Saudi Arabia’s gaming star BanderitaX among the big names to be attending the event with plenty of entertainment lined up in the BLAST Gaming Zone.
Abu Dhabi, 15th December 2022: A leading esports player believes the first BLAST Premier World Final in Abu Dhabi presents an opportunity to reach out to new audiences and attract people to esports and gaming as one of the elite global esports tournaments got underway on Wednesday.
Karrigan of FaZe Clan will be among the world’s best players that will be in action in the season-finale tournament which is currently taking place at the Etihad Arena until 18th December.
It is the first time the tournament is being held in the Middle East after BLAST partnered with AD Gaming, a pioneering gaming and esports initiative to bring its season-ending tournament to the UAE capital for the first time as part of a three-year partnership.
Karrigan says it’s important to be playing in new cities around the world and keep gaming and ‘Counter-Strike alive’. He said: “BLAST setting up this World Final in this region is a fantastic way to reach new audiences. No matter where we are in the world, we know there’s a massive fan base for Counter-Strike and we’re going to keep that alive as long as we can. I think it’s important we go around the world and make CS:GO and esports popular.”
On the opening day of the season-finale tournament, the highest-profile esports event to be staged in Abu Dhabi so far, Team Liquid, FaZe Clan, OG Esports and Team Vitality got their campaigns off to a winning start at the Etihad Arena.
Running until 18th December, the World Final will see eight of the world’s biggest esports organisations battle for glory in the seventh and last event of BLAST Premier tournament series, which will have a prize pool of USD $1 million.
Tickets still available
Tickets for 17th and 18th December cost as low as AED 50 for Students and AED 115. Tickets can be purchased by visiting https://www.etihadarena.ae/en/event-booking/blast-premier-world-final-2022.
Besides watching the best players in action, the event will also be attended by some of the biggest names in the Middle East including Saudi Arabia’s popular gaming creator BanderitaX along with professional Fortnite players NM7 and spyerfrog.
They will be among a host of top gamers, influencers and content creators including Basharkk,” and Galaxy Racer’s professional Fortnite players “Souriano” and “g1ntl” with spectators able to meet the stars in person.
The BLAST Gaming Zone will also have something for every person to enjoy with fans able to participate in a weekend of playing Counter-Strike, FIFA and Fall Guys.
About BLAST
We’re on a mission to take esports to the next level of global entertainment. We excite and invite billions of fans to join the esports revolution. We create live and digital experiences – from tournaments that pack out major arenas around the world to
great content that’s guaranteed to blow your socks off.
We work with some of the world’s best game publishers and brands to elevate their properties into amazing esports experiences – having delivered tournaments, content and shows in a variety of games, including: Counter-Strike, DOTA 2, VALORANT, Apex Legends, FIFA 2022 and Fortnite.
Over the last year, we’ve been working with Fortnite to develop industry leading, year-round, calendar of exciting and competitive esports events. Following last year’s FNCS All-Star Showdown and FNCS Grand Royale tournaments, we’re now operating the entire FNCS Chapter 3 broadcast schedule during each Fortnite Season for 2022.
BLAST Premier is a worldwide Counter-Strike tournament series where the best teams and biggest superstars fight it out for glory and a multi-million dollar prize pool. Famous for its unparalleled production quality and game changing fan-first moments. Attracting tens-of-thousands of fans to our crazy-big-adrenaline-pumped live events in big arenas from London and Copenhagen to Miami and Sao Paulo, with millions more watching at home on our broadcast tuning in from more than 154 territories and in 25 different languages.
About AD Gaming
Abu Dhabi Gaming is a collaborative initiative that aggregates the broad efforts throughout
Abu Dhabi to drive and build a self-sustaining gaming and esports ecosystem.
Its role is to facilitate, empower and create an industry that is essential for the future of Abu
Dhabi’s media and entertainment industry.
Fostering an environment of growth and knowledge, AD Gaming will provide a support
system for the next generation of game developers and players, consumers and businesses
alike.
Abu Dhabi Gaming is powered by the collaboration of multiple Abu Dhabi based
governmental and commercial organisations, as well as content creators and gamers, with
the collective focus to build this creative sector.