Riyadh Masters 2025, part of the sprawling Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia, is a massive Dota 2 tournament drawing top teams from around the globe. While the primary focus is on high-level competition and the pursuit of a substantial $3 million prize pool, sometimes unexpected, minor issues can arise, occasionally touching upon cultural nuances or organizational specifics.
One such peculiar incident recently came to light involving Egor `Nightfall` Grigorenko, the carry player for Aurora Gaming. During the ongoing tournament, Nightfall apparently encountered a rather unusual challenge related to his attire: he was reportedly informed he would not be permitted to wear light-colored trousers during his matches.
The discussion surrounding this fashion constraint was captured in a team vlog, providing a glimpse into the players` reaction. A voice off-camera brings up the issue, to which teammate Kiyotaka responds with surprise, admitting he wasn`t aware of any rule mandating black pants. Nightfall himself expresses his intention to wear the light pants regardless, only to be firmly told, “No, no, you can`t, brother.”
When Nightfall questioned the restriction, asking “Why?”, the reason provided was quite specific: “In Saudi Arabia, the law prohibits men from wearing light-colored pants.” This explanation evidently caught Nightfall off guard. He voiced his disbelief, asking why he was only being informed of this now, and noted that his pants wouldn`t be fully visible during gameplay. The response, slightly humorously, pointed out, “You lift your leg, Egor!” To which Nightfall, smiling, offered a playful suggestion, “Let`s say I won`t lift it.”
However, when examining the official rulebook for Riyadh Masters 2025 and other Esports World Cup events, the situation presents a minor point of confusion. The rules *do* stipulate a dress code for players, emphasizing uniform appearance, requiring long trousers and closed footwear. It also prohibits items like headwear and clothing with conflicting team logos or offensive content. What the official document does *not* explicitly state is any specific prohibition against light-colored trousers.
This discrepancy raises questions: Was the reason cited in the vlog a strict, though perhaps unwritten, interpretation of local customs applied to participants, or simply a miscommunication regarding the tournament`s specific dress code requirements? Regardless of the exact origin of the rule enforcement, the image of a professional gamer facing a sartorial roadblock – and the subsequent discussion about leg movement visibility – adds a uniquely trivial, slightly ironic footnote to a major international esports event.
Riyadh Masters 2025 is currently taking place in Saudi Arabia from July 8 to 19, featuring 16 elite teams vying for the impressive $3 million prize pool. While Nightfall`s trouser dilemma is unlikely to shift the competitive landscape, it serves as a curious reminder that even in the high-tech world of esports, sometimes the most unexpected challenges involve something as mundane as clothing.
