Saudi esports teams rising to the occasion at Esports World Cup in Riyadh
Team Falcons recently stormed to victory in Overwatch 2, while Twisted Minds captured the Call of Duty: Warzone title in a dramatic grand final performance, adding crucial points to their Club Championship standings.
The Overwatch 2 competition showcased Saudi dominance, with all top-three places claimed by local teams.
Team Falcons defeated Al-Qadsiah Esports 4-0 in the final, their first title of the tournament. Twisted Minds claimed third place after a 3-1 victory over South Korea's T1, highlighting the Kingdom's depth of talent in the title.
Twisted Minds triumphed in the Call of Duty: Warzone tournament, lifting the trophy after an intense 10-game final. Along the way, they defeated top-seeded rivals, including last year's champions and tournament favorites Team Falcons, who finished fifth overall.
Saudi teams have also earned podium finishes and top placements across a range of other competitions.
Team Falcons finished second in Dota 2 after a dominant path to the grand final, with victories over Team Liquid and Tundra Esports, before falling to Team Spirit.
In the inaugural Esports World Cup Chess tournament, Team Falcons' Alireza Firouzja placed second behind Magnus Carlsen, while teammate Hikaru Nakamura took third.
ROC Esports delivered a historic result in Apex Legends, finishing second among 40 of the world's best teams, and Twisted Minds reached the semifinals of Honor of Kings to claim fourth place.
In addition, Team Falcons secured sixth in Free Fire and 10th in PUBG Mobile, with fellow Saudi team POWR Esports finishing 12th in the latter.
With two weeks of competition remaining, the race for the Esports World Cup Club Championship is heating up.
Team Falcons sit in second place overall with 3,700 points behind leaders Team Liquid, while Twisted Minds have strengthened their standing with their Call of Duty victory, climbing to fifth place with 2,200 points.
The coming days will see Saudi teams compete in several more high-profile tournaments, with the potential to add to the Kingdom's medal count and Club Championship points total.
Here are some of the events that will include Saudi teams before the end of the competition:
Rocket League: Saudi squads Team Falcons and Twisted Minds are targeting Esports World Cup glory, with Team Falcons looking to go one better after finishing as runners-up last year.
PUBG: Battlegrounds: Team Falcons and Twisted Minds are set to battle for success in the tournament.
Tekken 8: Team Falcons are entering with proven regional champions.
Teamfight Tactics: Falcons, POWR Esports, and Twisted Minds are all in action, with strong prospects for deep runs.
Counter-Strike 2: Team Falcons are aiming for redemption after previous close finishes.
Street Fighter 6: Team Falcons' top fighters are expected to contend against the world's best.
Crossfire: Team Falcons, Twisted Minds, and Al-Qadsiah will represent Saudi Arabia.
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