The 2022 Gamers8 Riyadh Rocket League Masters wrapped up on July 17 at the Boulevard Riyadh City in Saudi Arabia with South African esports organisation, Orlando Pirates Exdee, finishing 23rd out of the 24 participants, earning the 17th-24th cash prize of $15,000.
The South African team of Gareth “Snowyy” Spiers, Ethan “Darth” Deysel, Niel-Robèrt “SkillSteal” Burger, and cpZebra failed to win a single match in a group that included SMPR Esports, F16 Esports, Owl Esports, FaZe Clan, and eventual Gamers8 champions FURIA Esports.
Orlando Pirates Exdee kicked off their competition in the Upper Quarter-Finals of Group C. However, a 3-1 loss to Owl Esports dropped the team to the Lower Quarter-Finals, where they faced FaZe Clan, who thrashed the South Africans 3-0 to end their hopes of Gamers8 glory.
FaZe Clan would go on to finish in 5th place, while Brazilian esports team FURIA Esports would go on to make history, becoming the first-ever Gamers8 Riyadh Rocket League Masters champions, claiming the first-place prize of $500,000.
The Chairperson of the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF), Faisal Bin Bandar Bin Sultan, congratulated FURIA Esports on their victory, stating, “A huge congratulations also for our champions, FURIA Esports, as well as our finalists, semifinalists, and every team who has graced us with their participation this week.”
“As a result of their individual and collective involvement, the profile and popularity of esports and gaming have been elevated further at the local, regional, and global levels,” he further stated.
The SEF Chairperson also spoke about the Gamers8 Rocket League Masters, stating that despite him and the organisers already having high expectations for the competition, the event somehow exceeded those high expectations.
“As the first international elite tournament series to headline our professional esports calendar, all parties involved with Gamers8 had high expectations ahead of Rocket League, from our partners and us as organizers, to the attendees and players themselves.”
“And tonight, when reflecting on an incredible four days, Rocket League has unquestionably surpassed these expectations, setting an envious standard for the competitions that follow.”