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Arab News
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Arab News
Saudi esports teams rising to the occasion at Esports World Cup in Riyadh
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's top esports teams have continued to make their mark on the global stage at the Esports World Cup 2025, with Team Falcons and Twisted Minds delivering standout victories in front of sold-out crowds at Boulevard Riyadh City. 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.
Arab News
04-08-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia's Team Falcons win OWCS Midseason Championship at Esports World Cup 2025
RIYADH: Team Falcons has won the OWCS Midseason Championship at Esports World Cup 2025, becoming the first ever team to win the Jafonso award after qualifying to the tournament through the last chance qualifier. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Named after Joao 'Jafonso' Vasconcelos, who, in 2024, was the first, and until now only, player to win an EWC tournament after qualifying through the LCQ, the award celebrates teams who arrive in Riyadh with no guaranteed place in the competition but go on to win the entire tournament. The Korean roster of Team Falcons arrived in the organization's home city having just missed out on qualifying to the main event in both the Champions Clash and the OWCS Korea Stage 2. Forced to enter the LCQ, Team Falcons were a favorite to make it to the main event given they are the reigning OWCS world champions, but with other major names such as ZETA DIVISION and Cold Metal in the mix it was not a guarantee. However, Team Falcons would eventually win the LCQ in convincing fashion, and secure a place in the main event. From there, Team Falcons eased through their group before taking down Geekay Esports and T1 in the playoffs to reach the grand final. There they faced-off against fellow Middle East organization Al-Qadsiah Esports, but made things look easy with a swift 4-0 victory to earn them the OWCS Midseason Championship title. 'Before this tournament, I had to remind myself I will bring this team back to the top,' said Kim 'Proper' Dong-hyun, who earned the Sony MVP award for his performance throughout the event. 'I think I proved myself. I am really grateful for it.' Team Falcons earned 1,000 Club Championship points for their victory, which moves them back into first place in the Club Championship with 3,500 points. As they have now won a trophy at the Esports World Cup 2025, they are eligible to win the Club Championship should they top the table at the end of the event. As the defending champions, finally getting a win under their belt and becoming eligible for the trophy will be a big weight off the shoulders of everyone at Team Falcons. Week five at the Esports World Cup 2025 takes place until Aug. 10 with finals across 'Call of Duty: Warzone,' 'EA SPORTS FC 25' and 'Rainbow 6 Siege X.'
Arab News
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Twisted Minds top cross-game leaderboard after 19 Saudi eLeague tournaments
RIYADH: Twisted Minds are top of the Saudi eLeagues, the Kingdom's premier esports league, following 19 tournaments in the season so far. Organized by the Saudi Esports Federation and hosted at the SEF Arena in Boulevard Riyadh City, the league brings together Saudi Arabia's top esports clubs competing across multiple games and divisions. So far, more than 40 clubs have competed across a total of 19 tournaments — 14 in the Elite category and five in the Women's division — in the race for points on the coveted Clubs Cross-Game Leaderboard. These points will also determine which teams secure spots in the championship, the league's marquee event where the best teams will clash for the ultimate title and a share of the SR7 million ($1.87 million) prize pool. As the dust settles on the first phase of the season, the leaderboard is beginning to take shape: For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Each tournament has added its own narrative to the Saudi eLeague, from Overwatch 2, VALORANT and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 to EA SPORTS FC 25 and battleground drama in PUBG and PUBG MOBILE. Meanwhile, the Women's division has delivered some of the league's most inspiring moments, highlighting the rising skill level and growing depth of talent in Saudi Arabia's esports scene. With the league now at its halfway point, every point earned is a step closer to final success. Twisted Minds may sit top for now, but with Team Falcons and Al-Qadsiah Esports breathing down their necks, the race will continue apace. 'The halfway point of this year's Saudi eLeagues highlights just how extraordinary and competitive this season has been,' said Abdullah Alnasser, head of esports products at the Saudi Esports Federation. 'What sets this year apart from previous seasons is the sheer intensity and depth of competition across all categories. From the Elite tournaments to the Women's division, we've witnessed remarkable growth — not just in the number of clubs participating, but in the level of skill, strategy and determination on display. 'The race for the top is far from over, and every match continues to push the boundaries of what our players and teams can achieve. This season is shaping up to be something truly special, a milestone moment for Saudi esports that reflects the incredible progress of our scene.'
Arab News
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Saudi eLeague concludes first phase of 2025 season
RIYADH: The Saudi eLeague, the Kingdom's premier esports competition, has seen over 40 clubs take part in the 2025 season. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Organized by the Saudi Esports Federation and hosted at the SEF Arena in Boulevard Riyadh City, the league showcases the Kingdom's top clubs as they battle across multiple titles and divisions. Participating clubs have so far battled across 10 high-stakes contests, six in the elite category and four in the women category, with valuable points up for grabs at the top of the cross-game leaderboard. The final standings will determine the qualifiers for the championship, the league's most prominent event in which top clubs compete for the ultimate title and a major share of a prize pool worth almost $1.9 million. Twisted Minds lead the pack after the latest round, with Team Falcons second. Al-Qadsiah Esports sit in third, the breakout team of the season, surging up the ranks with wins in both the men's and women's contests. The first phase of the Saudi eLeague season has now concluded, and Abdullah Al-Nasser, head of esports products at the Saudi Esports Federation, said: 'The strong start to this year's Saudi eLeague says a lot about how far the scene has come. 'Compared to previous seasons … we're seeing real progress, more clubs, stronger competition, new talents and growing excitement from the community. 'What matters most is how competitive and intense every match has become. (It is) a platform where Saudi talents and clubs can grow, compete, and shine on bigger stages.' Fans can follow the action live at the SEF Arena or via Saudi eLeague channels on Twitch, YouTube, and social platforms.
