SAUDI ARABIA: Creative Technology Middle East (CTME) once again showcased its world-class technical expertise at the E-Sports World Cup (EWC) Opening Ceremony at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, delivering an unforgettable visual spectacle powered by nearly 600 Elation lighting fixtures.

EWC 2025 united over 2,500 players from around the world competing for a staggering $70 million in prize money. The star-studded opening night, headlined by Post Malone and Alesso, set the tone for weeks of high-level competition with an electrifying production that fused LED visuals, projection, and lighting into one cinematic whole.

Led by Emmy Award-winning designer Jon Kusner of 22 Degrees, the visual design combined over 1,500 lighting fixtures and 388 square metres of LED screen into a monumental setup. Integrated across the stage floor and triangular truss structures, the LED system worked seamlessly with projection mapping on custom-fabricated triangular scenic pieces, creating a landscape of layered visual depth and sculptural mountain-like forms.

In collaboration with TAIT, MDLBEAST, and a creative team from POSSIBLE Productions, Visual Noise, 22 Degrees, and Wieder Design Studios, CTME delivered LED screens, projection, and lighting — all supported by a robust technical backbone designed for a production of this immense scale.

“Our significant investment in lighting technology over the past year has been pivotal in enabling us to deliver impeccable productions of this scale,” said Andy Reardon, Managing Director of Creative Technology Middle East. “We expanded our fleet with a substantial number of Elation fixtures. Their performance played a key role in shaping the immersive visual environment and elevating the audience experience throughout the event.”

The large-scale lighting rig featured 200 PROTEUS MAXIMUS, 182 PULSE PANEL FX, and 191 PULSE BAR L units. According to CTME’s Head of Lighting & Power, Sam Connolly, the Elation fixtures were central to achieving the show’s distinct visual identity. “The Elation fixtures performed exceptionally well. They proved to be reliable, bright, and versatile throughout rehearsals and showtime, contributing significantly to the visual impact and creative execution of the production,” he stated.

The high-output PROTEUS MAXIMUS LED moving heads served as the primary profiles, positioned between the series of triangular truss fingers and distributed around the venue. “This setup gave us the flexibility to light any area or highlight specific moments as needed throughout the show,” Connolly explained. The PULSE PANEL FX fixtures, integrated in line with LED battens, provided powerful strobe effects with continuous pan/spin and 180° tilt capabilities. “The tilt and pan functionality of the PULSE PANELs added dynamic movement and unique visual energy to the performance,” Connolly added.

The linear PULSE BAR L strobe and effect lights were strategically placed behind the mountain structure and at its base to act as uplights, producing striking eye-candy visuals. “With their wide beam angle, they beautifully illuminated the mountain from below, creating dramatic silhouette moments and enhancing the show’s overall visual depth,” he said.

Both the PULSE PANEL FX and PULSE BAR L utilise 1.5W RGB LEDs with 5W CW strobe LEDs distributed across multiple controllable zones, each featuring the same advanced effects engine and control capabilities. “One of the main reasons we utilised the Elation PULSE family was for colour synchronization,” Connolly shared. “This allowed the lighting design team to achieve perfectly matched colour tones across all PULSE fixtures, ensuring a cohesive and uniform look throughout the show.”

As a leading provider of AV technology across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, Creative Technology Middle East continues to set new benchmarks for large-scale productions in the region. The E-Sports World Cup Opening Ceremony stands as another testament to CTME’s commitment to delivering world-class visual experiences — with Elation technology once again at the forefront of the spectacle.