Amid an atmosphere of joy and excitement, the second edition of the Esports World Cup kicked off today, Thursday, in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

The opening ceremony featured breathtaking light shows and record-breaking audience attendance, making it the largest in esports tournament history. The event also honored the champions of the first edition, Team Falcons, with its players appearing on a raised platform to the crowd’s roaring applause.

This year’s tournament, running for seven weeks, will see 2,000 players and 200 teams from 100 countries competing across 25 tournaments covering 24 games. Participants will battle for the largest prize pool in esports history, exceeding $70 million.