The Esports World Cup for Teamfight Tactics kicked off on Aug. 8 to a fanfare light show and a giant LAN stage—but it lacked everything that made the Riot Vegas Open memorable. 

Eight teams from around the globe stepped onto the EWC stage for the first of four days of competition in Riyadh, to silence. Teams competed in the newly founded 4v4 team format to determine the top two advancing to the playoffs. Under the banner of bringing esports together, many fans and players opposed the EWC since it’s a Saudi Arabia-backed event—while some player couldn’t take part at all. But with the industry and teams hurting for cash, the money was too good to pass on. Yet, despite the fanfare and money thrown into the TFT event, it has nothing on the Vegas Open.