Esports World Cup 2025 will be ‘best ever,’ says foundation chief 

 The Esports World Cup 2025 is set to be the
The Esports World Cup 2025 is set to be the "best esports tournament ever", said Faisal bin Horman, Chief Product Officer of the Esports World Cup Foundation, during an interview with Arab News at the Sports Investment Forum. (AN Photo)
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Updated 08 April 2025
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Esports World Cup 2025 will be ‘best ever,’ says foundation chief 

Esports World Cup 2025 will be ‘best ever,’ says foundation chief 
  • Faisal bin Horman, Chief Product Officer of the Esports World Cup Foundation, spoke to Arab News at the Sports Investment Forum in Riyadh

RIYADH: The Esports World Cup 2025 is set to be the “best esports tournament ever,” said Faisal bin Horman, Chief Product Officer of the Esports World Cup Foundation, during an interview with Arab News at the Sports Investment Forum. 

The Sports Investment Forum in Riyadh, taking place from April 7-9, is providing a platform for industry leaders to explore entrepreneurial opportunities, said Homran.

“Sports is a big industry, and we have newcomers every year, and one of them is esports” he said. “Forums like this introduce the private sector for the future investors, for the future stakeholders, to be a part of this. It gives more information and kjore crdibility for [sports industries]” 

Homran who oversees the major development of esports in the Kingdom, predicts that by 2034, the Kingdom will have the top two events for sports: football’s FIFA World Cup and the Esports World Cup. 

Speaking on theEsports world Cup 2025, he commented: “This year will see the best esports tournament ever, for anyone who loves gaming or esports. Online or physical [audiences], they will have the best time of their life.”

During LEAP, the Kingdom announced being the host of the first-ever Esports Olympic Games in 2027, a landmark achievement in the country’s ambitious quest to become a global leader in gaming and esports.

Homran says everyone will watch the game and be proud of Saudi Arabia’s evergrowing achievements. 

Similarly to Japan and China, two nations known for their video gaming culture, Saudi Arabia has looked to showcase its heritage and culture through esports. 

“It is a good opportunity for us (Saudi Arabia) to connect community culture with Esports.” 

As part of its Vision 2030 initiative, Saudi Arabia is accelerating efforts to diversify its economy, with the industrial and manufacturing sectors playing a key role in reducing the country’s reliance on oil. 

Programs like the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program are central to the Kingdom’s strategy, aiming to establish Saudi Arabia as a leading regional hub for advanced manufacturing, with a focus on petrochemicals, mining, and renewable energy.

The inaugural edition of the three-day Sports Investment Forum sees local and international leaders, officials, investors, and entrepreneurs exploring opportunities in the Kingdom’s evolving sports landscape. 

The forum aims to expand the scope of sports investment in Saudi Arabia by fostering effective partnerships, attracting capital, and launching initiatives to drive growth across the sector. 


Al-Hilal storm into Champions League last four

Al-Hilal storm into Champions League last four
Updated 7 sec ago
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Al-Hilal storm into Champions League last four

Al-Hilal storm into Champions League last four
  • Sergej Milinkovic-Savic scores first in 7-0 rout of South Korea’s Gwangju
  • Al-Hilal will play domestic rivals Al-Ahli or Thailand’s Buriram United in Tuesday’s semifinal

JEDDAH: Al-Hilal thrashed Gwangju FC 7-0 on Friday to ease into the semifinals of the AFC Champions League.
An early goal from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic gave the Saudi Arabians the lead and they never looked back, much to the delight of their fans in Jeddah.
They were three goals to the good by the break and the second half was even better. On this performance, the four-time champions, who had been in uncertain form in the Saudi Pro League of late, will take some stopping on their quest for a fifth continental crown.
It took just six minutes for the home fans — who provided a fantastic tifo backdrop — to be celebrating. Salem Al-Dawsari swung over a corner and Milinkovic-Savic broke free at the near post to send a perfect header into the far corner.
The South Koreans should have been level just three minutes later. Reis’ pass sent Jasir Asani through on goal. The stadium sat back waiting for the tournament’s top scorer to grab goal No. 10 but his shot was blocked by Yassine Bounou. It turned out to be a turning point in the game because just past the midway point of the first half Hilal extended their lead.
Malcom had space down the right, found Marcos Leonardo on the edge of the six-yard box and his fellow Brazilian made no mistake with his first-time shot.
Leonardo then turned provider. Still inside his own half, he found Al-Dawsari just inside Gwangju’s. The international outpaced the defense, sprinted into the area and found the back of the net with a confident finish.
That seemed to be that and the win was sealed 10 minutes after the break as Aleksandar Mitrovic got in on the act. Fellow Serbian Milinkovic-Savic swung over a cross from the right and there was the striker to attack the bouncing ball and lash it into the bottom corner.
From then it was all about how many the Riyadh giants would score. The fifth came 11 minutes from time. Malcom swapped passes with Mitrovic at the edge of the area and then slipped the ball past the goalkeeper. There was time for two more from two substitutes.
Nasser Al-Dawsari grabbed the sixth and Abdullah Al-Hamdan completed the rout.
Al-Hilal can now sit back and prepare for Tuesday’s semifinal against either domestic rivals Al-Ahli or Thailand’s Buriram United.


Eubank Jr. fined after missing weight for Benn grudge bout

Eubank Jr. fined after missing weight for Benn grudge bout
Updated 15 min 3 sec ago
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Eubank Jr. fined after missing weight for Benn grudge bout

Eubank Jr. fined after missing weight for Benn grudge bout
  • A rehydration clause states that Eubank Jr. will be unable to weigh more than 10lb heavier on Saturday morning and failure to abide by this will result in another fine

LONDON: Chris Eubank Jr. will be fined £375,000 ($499,000) after failing to reach the correct weight ahead of his grudge fight against British rival Conor Benn on Saturday.
Eubank Jr. had two attempts at weighing in at 160lb, missing his first try by 0.2lb before falling short again by 0.05lb.
The 35-year-old faces the fine after agreeing to a clause in his catchweight fight contract with Benn at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
A rehydration clause states that Eubank Jr. will be unable to weigh more than 10lb heavier on Saturday morning and failure to abide by this will result in another fine.
The fight is set to take place despite Eubank’s shortcomings, with Benn, 28, coming in well under the limit at 156.4lb.
Eubank Jr. posted a video of him cutting weight in his hotel after the news with the caption “pain is temporary ... glory is forever.”
Benn, responding to video, wrote: “Christopher who are you trying to fool and get sympathy from? I’m coming up to your weight, a weight you’ve made your last three fights and most of your career.
“It’s like you’re looking for excuses already? First time you’ve ever missed weight and first time you’ve ever posted a weight cut.”
Eubank Jr.’s fine comes after he was handed a £100,000 penalty in February for slapping Benn with an egg in their Manchester press conference.
The antagonistic relationship between the boxers mirrors the feud between their fathers Chris Eubank Sr. and Nigel Benn, who fought twice in the 1990s.


Saudi woman elected as first female president of Arab Badminton Federation

Saudi woman elected as first female president of Arab Badminton Federation
Updated 38 min 33 sec ago
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Saudi woman elected as first female president of Arab Badminton Federation

Saudi woman elected as first female president of Arab Badminton Federation
  • Mai bint Ubaid Al-Rasheed wins by two votes from Iraqi challenger
  • Move set to strengthen role of Saudi women in regional sports leadership

JEDDAH: Mai bint Ubaid Al-Rasheed has become the first Saudi woman to be elected as president of the Arab Badminton Federation.
The election was held on Friday during the organization’s general assembly on the sidelines of the Badminton World Federation’s annual congress in China.
Al-Rasheed secured 10 votes in the poll, two more than Iraqi candidate Fann Shawqi Youssef, the ABF said in a statement.
She will take over the presidency from Sawsan Hajji Taqawi, who had held the position since 2018.
Al-Rasheed’s victory was widely hailed as a positive step in strengthening the role of Saudi women in regional sports leadership.
During the vote, Tabash Al-Jilali of Algeria, Iyad Mahmoud from Syria, Samir Shaghouri of Lebanon and Yaqoub Al-Issa from Palestine were elected as committee members.
Yazeed Al-Massoud was named secretary-general of the Arab Badminton Federation for the 2025–28 term.
The statement said that the new leadership marked a step forward in strengthening Arab cooperation and advancing the sport of badminton both regionally and internationally.
The ABF was established in Cairo in 1996.


Guardiola says Man City must show ‘spirit’ to get back on top

Guardiola says Man City must show ‘spirit’ to get back on top
Updated 25 April 2025
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Guardiola says Man City must show ‘spirit’ to get back on top

Guardiola says Man City must show ‘spirit’ to get back on top
  • It was a display of unity that Guardiola didn’t see earlier in the season
  • “We learn to do better. To create another bond with the team, to celebrate when we score a goal,” he said

LONDON: Pep Guardiola has vowed Manchester City will be back to their best next season after losing their “spirit” during a turbulent campaign that exposed an unexpected lack of hunger in his side.
Currently third in the Premier League, City — who had won the previous four English titles — want to salvage a dismal year by winning the FA Cup and qualifying for the Champions League via a top five finish.
Guardiola’s side face Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup semifinals on Sunday knowing defeat at Wembley would condemn them to finish without a major trophy for the first time since 2016-17.
But Guardiola is already thinking about how to avoid a repeat of City’s stunning struggles and he believes he has found the solution.
The City boss noticed the passion his players celebrated with after Bernardo Silva put them ahead in a crucial 2-1 win against top-five rivals Aston Villa on Tuesday.
It was a display of unity that Guardiola didn’t see earlier in the season, when he felt City took success for granted after winning six of the last seven Premier League titles.
“We learn to do better. To create another bond with the team, to celebrate when we score a goal,” he told reporters on Friday.
“When Bernardo scored the first goal on Tuesday we celebrated. The body language, the passion.
“We didn’t celebrate the same way when we scored in October. That stupid detail tells a lot.
“We have to recover the spirit we had in the first nine years. This year we didn’t have it.”
Guardiola hopes his quest to reignite his players’ fire will eventually close the gap on champions-elect Liverpool.
“Next season will be better. Everybody learned the lesson. I think we will compete a bit better for the Premier League,” he said.
“I’m not saying we will win it but we will be more who we are. I think the players understand. You have to fight to defend your club. I’m pretty sure we will be back again.”
Guardiola took heart from the way Rodri has been trying to inspire his team-mates as the Spain midfielder recovers from the knee injury that has sidelined him since September.
“I love that,” Guardiola said. “The guy doesn’t play and I allow him to be a manager.
“He will help the guys and it is the way we create a team. It is something special.”
City are aiming to reach the FA Cup final for a third successive season after winning the competition in 2023 and losing last year’s showpiece against Manchester United.
They face a tricky test from Nuno Espirito Santo’s team after losing 1-0 at the City Ground in the Premier League in March, a result that maintained Forest’s unexpected push for a first Champions League campaign since 1980-81.
“It would be good to make the final but we have a serious and tough rival. Nuno has been incredible,” Guardiola said.
This is the seventh successive season that City have reached the FA Cup semifinals, but they have only lifted the trophy twice in the Guardiola era.
No matter the result at Wembley, Guardiola acknowledged the season has been a failure.
“I said many times the season has not been good, regardless if we reach the final or go to the Champions League,” he said.
“Too many matches have not been good. We would avoid bigger damage for the club if we win the cup. But what will dictate the season is the Premier League.”


Copa del Rey final referee breaks down over Real Madrid TV pressure

Copa del Rey final referee breaks down over Real Madrid TV pressure
Updated 25 April 2025
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Copa del Rey final referee breaks down over Real Madrid TV pressure

Copa del Rey final referee breaks down over Real Madrid TV pressure
  • “When a child of yours goes to school and there are kids telling him that his father is a ‘thief’ and comes home crying, it’s totally messed up,” De Burgos Bengoetxea said
  • “What I do is try to educate my son, to say that his father is honest, above all honest”

SEVILLE, Spain: Copa del Rey final referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea welled up on Friday when speaking about pressure officials have faced from Real Madrid TV this season.
Madrid take on rivals Barcelona on Saturday in the Spanish cup final in Seville and this week the club’s television channel launched a video attacking the official, which they have done to various referees this season.
Los Blancos also published an open letter in February claiming Spanish refereeing was “rigged” and “completely discredited.”
“When a child of yours goes to school and there are kids telling him that his father is a ‘thief’ and comes home crying, it’s totally messed up,” De Burgos Bengoetxea told a news conference.
“What I do is try to educate my son, to say that his father is honest, above all honest, who can make mistakes, like any sportsperson,” he continued, becoming emotional.
“This is really messed up... but the day I leave (the job), I want my son to be proud of what his father is, and what refereeing is, it has given us many values.”
Wiping away tears, the 39-year-old called for deeper thought on the issue of referee abuse.
“It’s not right what we are going through, many colleagues, and not just in professional football, but also at grassroots level,” he added.
“Everyone should reflect about where we want to go, about what we want from sport and from football.”
Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes, the referee in charge of VAR for the final, suggested officials could take further action over Real Madrid TV’s broadcasts in the coming weeks.
“Have no doubt that we are going to have to start taking much more serious measures than we are taking,” said Gonzalez Fuertes.
“We will not continue to allow what is happening. Soon, you will hear from us.
“We are going to make history, because we are not going to continue to bear what we are putting up with.”