RIYADH: The Roshn Saudi League has announced the preliminary list of nominees for the Best Saudi Player award in the current season.

The list, published Monday on the league’s official account on platform X, @SPL_EN, features Al-Ittihad winger Abdulrahman Al-Aboud—representing the reigning champions—alongside Al-Hilal’s Salem Al-Dawsari, Al-Shabab midfielder Musab Al-Juwair, Al-Khaleej striker Abdullah Al-Salem, and Al-Qadisiyah winger Turki Al-Ammar.

These five players fulfilled the nomination criteria announced by the league on May 5.

To be eligible, a player must have participated in at least 40% of their team’s total league matches, regardless of position or age. The award is also open to players born in Saudi Arabia, in addition to Saudi nationals.

Al-Aboud appeared in 27 matches, scoring 7 goals and providing 7 assists, playing a key role in Al-Ittihad clinching the title with two rounds to spare.

Al-Dawsari featured in 30 matches, recording 15 goals and 14 assists.

Al-Ammar took part in 29 games, contributing 4 goals and 6 assists.

Al-Juwair, on loan at Al-Shabab from Al-Hilal, was involved in 14 goals—scoring 5 and assisting 9.

Al-Salem also contributed to 14 goals, with 10 goals and 4 assists.

The nominees were selected by the league’s technical committee, comprising Turki Al-Sultan, Sultan Al-Luhaiani, Khaled Al-Shanif, Manaf Abu Shaqeer, and Obaidullah Al-Eisi.

The list will be narrowed down to three finalists. The winner will be determined through a voting process divided as follows: 40% from coaches, 40% from team captains, 15% from sports media professionals, and 5% from fans.

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning esports scene takes another significant step forward as the ESL Saudi Challenge 2025 kicks off, spotlighting the Kingdom’s top Overwatch 2 talent and offering a direct path to the Esports World Cup.

Organized by ESL FACEIT Group, a Savvy Games Group company, the tournament features eight elite Saudi teams battling for a share of the $20,000 prize pool. But more than just the money is on the line — the winning team will earn a coveted spot in the Overwatch Champions Series, a premier international circuit that feeds into the EWC.

“The ESL Saudi Challenge is more than just a local tournament; it’s a strategic platform that offers players a genuine opportunity to reach the global stage,” said Franck Guignery, senior vice president of Middle East and North Africa at ESL FACEIT Group. “As an official operating partner of the EWC, ESL FACEIT Group is committed to building professional pathways and empowering local talent to represent Saudi Arabia in the international esports scene.”

The initiative is closely aligned with Saudi Arabia’s national strategy to develop a sustainable esports ecosystem and position the Kingdom as a global hub for competitive gaming.

This year’s tournament will culminate with the grand final on May 30 at VOV Gaming in Riyadh, where the top three teams from the May 13–16 playoffs will compete live in front of a home crowd.

With high stakes and international exposure on offer, the ESL Saudi Challenge has become a proving ground for players looking to make the leap from national heroes to global contenders.