“In the summer of 2024, the kingdom of Saudi Arabia hosted a moment of epic change for an industry that is bigger than the film and music industry combined,” the narrator declares at the start of Esports World Cup: Level Up, which premiered episode one Friday, June 6, on Prime Video and is streaming all five episodes in July and August.
It sounds dramatic, because it is. Featuring around 1,500 players competing across 22 titles for a record-breaking $60 million prize pool, the inaugural event, which ran from July 3 to August 25, 2024 in Riyadh, immediately establishes itself as monumental.
Still, the series kicks off feeling glossy — high-end cinematics paired with snappy montages and grandiose shots of Saudi Arabia’s capital might initially trick you into thinking you’re in for a fluff piece. But stick around past the opening fireworks, and you’ll see Emmy-winning director R.J. Cutler (Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry, Martha) peel back the shiny layers to reveal something raw, human, and deeply compelling beneath.
The Amazon Prime docuseries doesn’t waste time hyping esports as the next big thing but instead, it wisely lets the stories unfold naturally, trusting its cast of everyday competitors to carry the weight of historic expectations and unprecedented global attention. Cutler keeps the focus tight, with authentic human struggles driving each episode.
“A win might make the headlines, but the real story is the people behind it,” Esports World Cup Foundation CEO Ralf Reichert told Variety in May.
At the center is Kasimili “Soka” Tongamoa, a prodigy from the streets of San Mateo, California. If you think gamers are still basement-dwelling loners, Soka shatters that mold in episode one, bringing the heat with his trash talk, infectious energy, and surprisingly vulnerable reflections on what gaming means for kids from tough neighborhoods. It’s easy to root for him, even easier to feel crushed when his squad falters.
The documentary hits its stride by Episode Two, following Team Liquid’s Sanford Vinuya. This 19-year-old from a remote village in the Philippines shoulders an entire family’s future following his father’s stroke. His quiet strength juxtaposed against the glitz of the tournament arena is one of the series’ most impactful moments. Cutler excels here, weaving subtle narrative threads about pressure, family, and sacrifice without ever leaning into melodrama.
Episodes Three and Four amplify the stakes even further with gripping stories like sisters Michelle “Chel” and Cindy “Cinny” Siswanto, whose grandfather’s death sends ripples through their record-breaking run in Mobile Legends. Watching them navigate grief and performance anxiety as it unfolds adds depth to a sport often reduced to mere button-clicking. Meanwhile, Team FaZe’s Zack “Drazah” Jordan delivers a scrappy underdog narrative straight out of a sports movie. Raised in Alaska’s literal North Pole, his ascent to esports stardom feels uniquely American, complete with classic rivalry and redemption arcs.
In the finale, Team Vitality and Team Liquid each battle to stay on top, but via different titles. Vitality goes wheel‑to‑wheel with Verstappen‑backed Team Redline in R1 Sim Racing, while Liquid’s rising phenom, Clément “Clem” Desplanches, takes on Vitality veteran Cho “Maru” Seong‑ju in StarCraft II. With a combined $7 million and the Club Championship on the line, it’s a genuinely tense, cinematic conclusion, precisely what you’d hope for in a sports documentary.
There’s so many interesting stories and with five episodes covering numerous tournaments, some stories show up just to vanish. Yet keeping an eye on the leaderboard holds it together. You always know who’s chasing what, Falcons with home-soil pressure, Liquid with legacy ambitions, Vitality pushing to finish strong.
Ultimately, Esports World Cup: Level Up succeeds because Cutler understands that esports — like traditional sports — is fundamentally about people. With expert storytelling and a focused narrative, the series reframes competitive gaming as not just a modern phenomenon, but a universally human endeavor. This isn’t just another esports documentary; it’s a compelling argument that gaming, like any other sport, is deeply tied to our dreams, identities, and aspirations. It doesn’t matter if you live on Twitch or still call every console a Nintendo, Level Up lands either way. All five episodes are streaming now on Amazon Prime Video.
If you’re already hooked, the next Esports World Cup kicks off Tuesday, July 8 in Riyadh and goes for seven weeks with an even bigger $70 Million Prize and new titles like Valorant and chess joining the mix.
The Paste editorial staff was not involved in the creation of this content.
