Saudi Private Investment Fund's motives questioned after they unilaterally announce the hosting of Esports Nations Cup (ENC) without consulting Riot Games..

Foreign media outlet Sheep Esports publicly questioned the motives of the Saudi Private Investment Fund, the organizer of the Esports Nations Cup (ENC), which announced the event without consulting Riot Games.

According to the report, the Esports World Cup Foundation, a subsidiary of the Saudi Private Investment fund, and Riot Games signed a strategic partnership agreement in early 2025. Therefore, Riot Games should have been aware of any upcoming major e-sports events related to its games. However, judging by the Esports World Cup Foundation's promotional materials, Riot Games appears to have been kept in the dark.

The report also suggested that the Esports World Cup Foundation's deliberate announcement of the Esports Nations Cup (ENC), a year before the official 2026 eSports Olympics in Japan, suggests the Saudi Arabian government is attempting to "sportswash" by hosting as many major international sporting events as possible, using sports to enhance its reputation and dispel the image of numerous human rights violations.

Sheep Esports also believes that the Saudi Private Investment Fund, controlled by the royal family, may have deliberately chosen not to inform Riot Games to avoid criticism or knowing that Riot Games would reject their proposal, instead negotiating directly with its parent company, Tencent.

If these allegations are confirmed to be part of the Saudi Private Investment Fund's attempt to "sportswash," the Middle Eastern nation will once again face criticism from international non-profit organizations such as Amnesty International and Freedom House, which advocate for human rights equality.

This would also be the third time in recent years that the Saudi Private Investment Fund has been accused of deliberately exploiting sports to "sportswash", following its acquisition of Premier League club Newcastle United and its controversial bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

The Esports World Cup Organization suddenly and unilaterally announced that they will be hosting Esports Nations Cup (ENC) last Saturday (August 23rd).

This event, billed as "a tournament designed to promote competitive excellence and friendship between nations through esports," has been questioned since its announcement by many due to the organization's alleged deliberate disclaimer of the League of Legends developer.