Russian analyst Yaroslav "NS" Kuznetsov noted why FISSURE is covering Riyadh Masters 2024 in Dota 2. He believes the studio paid more for the broadcast rights than Paragon Events.
"[Why is FISSURE covering the tournament instead of Paragon Events?] Money. Finances rule the world, and sometimes personal relationships too. Occasionally, these are valued more than money. But most often, it's money because there's a saying, 'Friendship is one thing, service is another.' FISSURE simply bought the rights," Kuznetsov reported.
Kuznetsov added, "I haven't checked the cost, but for a tournament operator like ESL, the rivalry of Russian betting companies is golden for business. The money paid for rights is shocking. It's unreasonable; it's not worth that much," Kuznetsov mentioned.
In May 2024, FISSURE became the official broadcaster of all Esports World Cup events until 2026. The Russian-speaking talents for Riyadh Masters 2024 include former eScoreNews editor Polina "mash1na" Mashina, Rustam "Adekvat" Mavlyutov, Dmitry "Inmate" Filinov, and others.
Riyadh Masters 2024 takes place from July 4 to 21 in Saudi Arabia's capital, with participants from around the world competing for $5 million. Team Spirit entered the tournament as the reigning champion.