Creative Technology Middle East (CTME) once again demonstrated its top-tier technical capability at the opening ceremony of the E-Sports World Cup (EWC), held at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, delivering a high-impact visual spectacle supported by nearly 600 Elation lighting fixtures.
EWC 2025 brought together more than 2,500 players from around the world, competing for a total prize pool of $70 million.
Headlined by rapper and singer Post Malone and EDM star Alesso, the star-studded opening event celebrated weeks of top-level competitive gaming with a spectacular production that combined LED panels, projection, and lighting into a cohesive, cinematic experience.
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Monumental setup
The visual design, led by Emmy Award–winning designer Jon Kusner of 22 Degrees, featured a monumental setup that included more than 1,500 lighting fixtures and 388 square meters of LED screens. Integrated across the stage floor and suspended triangular trusses, the LED system worked in conjunction with scenic projection deployed onto custom-fabricated triangular structures. The resulting effect added rich visual depth and layered elements reminiscent of mountain peaks.
In collaboration with TAIT, MDLBEAST, and a top-tier creative team from POSSIBLE Productions Visual Noise, 22 Degrees, and Wieder Design Studios, CTME supplied LED screens, projection mapping, and lighting, all supported by a state-of-the-art technological infrastructure for a large-scale production.
IP-rated Elation rig
Our significant investment in lighting technology over the past year has been key to delivering impeccable productions of this scale. We have expanded our technical inventory with a substantial number of Elation fixtures, whose performance was fundamental in creating an immersive visual environment and elevating the audience experience throughout the event, commented Andy Reardon, Managing Director of Creative Technology Middle East.
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The impressive lighting system included a powerful array of 200 PROTEUS MAXIMUS units, 182 PULSE PANEL FX, and 191 PULSE BAR L fixtures.
Sam Connolly, Head of Lighting & Power at CTME, highlighted the role of Elation equipment in achieving the show’s visual identity: “The Elation fixtures performed exceptionally well. They proved to be reliable, powerful, and versatile throughout rehearsals and live showtime, contributing significantly to the visual impact and creative execution of the production”.
Dynamic flexibility
The high-power PROTEUS MAXIMUS LED moving heads were used as the main profile fixtures, installed between the different triangular truss sections and strategically distributed throughout the venue to cover and illuminate the various areas of the show. “This configuration gave us the flexibility to light any area or highlight specific moments as required by the show”, Connolly explained.
The PULSE PANEL FX units, integrated in line with LED battens, delivered powerful strobe capabilities with continuous pan/spin and 180° tilt. Connolly noted: “The tilt and pan functionality of the PULSE PANEL added dynamic movement and unique visual energy to the performance”.
The linear PULSE BAR L strobe and effect lights were positioned both behind the scenic mountain and at its base as uplights, generating striking visual effects. “Thanks to their wide beam angle, they illuminated the mountain spectacularly from below, creating dramatic silhouettes and enhancing the show’s overall visual depth”.
Color synchronization
Both PULSE PANEL FX and PULSE BAR L incorporate 1.5W RGB LEDs and 5W CW strobe LEDs across multiple customizable zones, and share the same effects engine and control capabilities.
One of the main reasons we used the Elation PULSE family was color synchronization. This allowed the lighting design team to achieve perfectly matched color tones across the PULSE fixtures, ensuring a cohesive and uniform look throughout the show, Connolly commented.
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CTME has played a decisive role in strengthening the Middle East’s reputation as a benchmark for spectacular, large-scale event production. This year’s E-Sports World Cup opening ceremony is yet another example of CTME’s ability to bring international-level productions to life.
Photos: courtesy of Creative Technology Middle East
