Competition in the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.— ©2024 The New York Times Company
THE fans flooded through the streets of Riyadh by the thousands, kept cool by mist machines in the 43°C heat. A 10m-tall replica gold trophy towered over onlookers at the city’s centre.
For a moment, covered in beams of brightly coloured light, a country defined by tradition looked futuristic.
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