New York Knicks to face Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025 presented by ADQ

The Knicks currently feature two-time NBA All-Star Jalen Brunson. (Supplied)
Short Url
Updated 24 April 2025
Follow

New York Knicks to face Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025 presented by ADQ

  • Teams feature several NBA All-Star players
  • Event will be broadcast to more than 200 countries and territories

ABU DHABI: The New York Knicks will face the Philadelphia 76ers in a preseason match-up during the NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025, presented by ADQ, on Oct. 2 and Oct. 4 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island.

The Knicks currently feature two-time NBA All-Star Jalen Brunson, five-time NBA All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns and 2022 NBA All-Defensive First Team member Mikal Bridges, while the 76ers are led by 2023 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player and seven-time NBA All-Star Joel Embiid, nine-time NBA All-Star Paul George and 2024 NBA All-Star Tyrese Maxey.

Bridges and Brunson previously played in Abu Dhabi as members of the USA men’s national team prior to the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup while Towns participated in The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2023 with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The 76ers’ Embiid previously played in Abu Dhabi as a member of the US national team prior to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025 presented by ADQ will air live in the UAE, across the Middle East and around the world, reaching fans in more than 200 countries and territories on television, digital media and social media, according to a statement from the NBA and the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi.

Ticket sales information will be announced at a later date.

The NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2025 are part of a multiyear collaboration between the NBA and DCT Abu Dhabi that features activities including preseason NBA Global Games, youth development programming and interactive fan events.


Saudi Arabia’s brightest e-sports stars to reach greater heights on global stage

Updated 11 sec ago
Follow

Saudi Arabia’s brightest e-sports stars to reach greater heights on global stage

  • Red Bull will serve as the Falcons’ official performance partner during the 2025 Esports World Cup
  • The collaboration aims to support players at the highest competitive levels

RIYADH: One of the world’s premier electronic sports organizations, the Falcons, signed on Wednesday a landmark partnership with Red Bull, giving Saudi Arabia’s brightest e-sports stars the wings to reach greater heights on the global stage.

The partnership reflects a shared mission to push boundaries in gaming, e-sports, and entertainment by introducing bold, youth-driven ideas that align with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, said a media statement.

Red Bull will serve as the Falcons’ official performance partner during the 2025 Esports World Cup, taking place in Riyadh from Jul. 7 to Aug. 24, added the statement.

The collaboration aims to support players at the highest competitive levels by enhancing physical and mental performance and providing an ideal environment for creativity and professionalism in the gaming arena.

Official performance partner for the Esports World Cup
Central to this effort is the Athlete Performance Center, where cutting-edge training, fitness, and recovery programs are tailored specifically for e-sports athletes, as Musaed Al-Dossary, known professionally as Msdossary, personally experienced in 2021 as part of his quest to develop his own outstanding skills.

With two main facilities in Salzburg and Los Angeles, and a global network, the center offers training and performance development opportunities for a wide range of athletes, wherever they are in the world, under the best conditions and supervision of a skilled team of medical experts and coaches.

A center for developing bright talents
Red Bull supports ambitious youth around the world through a series of initiatives, including this facility. Prominent athletes have experienced this center, including Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen, Austrian Grand Slam tennis champion Dominic Thiem, Dakar Rally winner Sam Sunderland, as well as Saudi motorsport star Dania Akeel.

A new era of esports excellence
Co-founded by Saudi e-sports icon Msdossary, the Falcons have already carved out a dominant international presence. With major championship titles under their belt, the team has set a new benchmark for Middle Eastern representation in competitive gaming.

Making history
The Falcons made headlines by winning the inaugural Esports World Cup in 2024, hosted in Riyadh. Competing in top titles like “Call of Duty: Warzone” and “Free Fire,” they outperformed nearly 500 teams and 1,500 pro players from across the globe.

Their groundbreaking win in a major “Dota 2” championship marked a milestone, not just for the Falcons, but for the entire Middle East e-sports scene. It showcased the region’s growing talent pool and its ability to compete on the global stage.


Inter to wear gold for Champions League final against PSG

Updated 28 May 2025
Follow

Inter to wear gold for Champions League final against PSG

  • Inter have played in six Champions League/European Cup finals to date
  • The Parisians are designated as the home team in the final

MILAN: Inter Milan will dress for the occasion by wearing their third, golden yellow kit in Saturday’s Champions League final when they face Paris St. Germain in Munich in the first official meeting between the sides.

Inter have played in six Champions League/European Cup finals to date, the first in 1964, and have never used their third kit in the showpiece match so far.

Since the Parisians are designated as the home team in the final, they will wear their first-choice kit — navy blue shorts and shirts with a white and red stripe in the center — so Inter cannot play in their classic black and blue striped jerseys.

The Italians, however, did not opt for their second strip -white shirts with blue details — choosing to wear the third kit instead, a golden yellow shirt with black details and black shorts.

There may be superstition involved as Simone Inzaghi’s side won both of their games in Europe’s elite club competition when playing in yellow this term, January’s 1-0 win at Sparta Prague and a 2-0 last-16 first-leg victory at Feyenoord in March.

Their only defeat in this season’s Champions League, meanwhile, came at Bayer Leverkusen when they wore white shirts in December.


Al-Ittihad fans attain record-breaking attendance for Roshn Saudi League season

Updated 28 May 2025
Follow

Al-Ittihad fans attain record-breaking attendance for Roshn Saudi League season

  • Al-Ahli fans came in second with 354,019 attendees
  • This year’s champions had their fans passing the half-a-million attendance mark

RIYADH: Al-Ittihad supporters have emerged as the most dedicated fans throughout the Roshn Saudi League 2024/2025 season with a total number of 594,326 attendees.

Al-Ahli fans came in second with 354,019 attendees, according to official data released on Wednesday via Saudi Pro League’s Arabic handle on X.

This year’s champions, Al-Ittihad, were the only club where fans passed the half-a-million attendance mark, out of a total number of 2.5 million supporters who attended the whole RSL.

Meanwhile, Al-Hilal secured third place with 302,028 attendees while Al-Nassr ranked fourth with a total of 277,821attendees.

In a notable rise, newly promoted Al-Qadsiah, returning from the Yelo League (First Division), claimed fifth spot with 168,331 fans.

Rounding out the list were Al-Fateh in sixth, followed by Al-Ettifaq, Al-Shabab, Al-Taawoun, Damac, Al-Khaleej, Al-Raed, Al-Wehda, Al-Kholood, Al-Orobah, Al-Riyadh, Al-Okhdood and Al-Fayha.


Ex-Turkiye international Turan appointed Shakhtar boss

Updated 28 May 2025
Follow

Ex-Turkiye international Turan appointed Shakhtar boss

  • Turan, 38, has signed a contract until 2027
  • “I’m proud to have joined Shakhtar,” Turan said

ISTANBUL: Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk have announced former Turkiye midfielder Arda Turan as their new head coach, replacing Marino Pusic.

Turan, 38, has signed a contract until 2027 after taking unfancied Eyupspor to a sixth-place finish in the Turkish top flight.

Next season, 15-time Ukrainian champions Shakhtar will feature in the Europa League first qualifying round having won the domestic cup earlier this month.


“I’m proud to have joined Shakhtar — a great club with a rich history and great traditions,” Turan said in a Shakhtar statement.

“We are deeply motivated to win trophies — both in Ukraine and in European competitions.”

Shakhtar were forced to leave their home ground, the Donbass Arena in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, after Russian-backed separatists seized control of the region in 2014.

Their home league games take place in the western city of Lviv.

They held their Champions League games this term in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

Turan retired from playing in 2022 after spells with Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Galatasaray. He also won 100 caps for his country.


Top team to be crowned at ESL Saudi Challenge grand final

Esports World Cup is scheduled to return to Riyadh from July 7 through Aug. 24. supplied
Updated 28 May 2025
Follow

Top team to be crowned at ESL Saudi Challenge grand final

RIYADH: The ESL Saudi Challenge 2025 reaches a thrilling climax this Friday at VOV Gaming in Riyadh, where Saudi Arabia’s top Overwatch 2 teams are set to battle for regional supremacy and a place on the global stage.

The high-stakes tournament will see Team Vision take on Al-Qadsiah in a best-of-five showdown, with the winner advancing to face reigning champions Twisted Minds in a best-of-seven grand final. 

With qualification for the Overwatch Champions Series and the Esports World Cup at stake, the event is being hailed as a defining moment for the Kingdom’s esports scene.

This year’s ESL Saudi Challenge is playing a crucial role in Saudi Arabia’s evolving esports ecosystem. More than just a tournament, it serves as a direct pathway to international competition while highlighting the rising caliber of local talent.

Organized by ESL FACEIT Group, the world’s leading esports and video game entertainment company, the tournament reflects the Kingdom’s broader ambitions to become a global gaming hub.

EFG was acquired in 2022 by Savvy Games Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, in a $1.5 billion deal aimed at accelerating the growth of esports in the region.

The ESL Saudi Challenge is a key pillar in that strategy, with EFG also serving as the main operating partner for the Esports World Cup over the next five years. The group’s involvement marks a long-term vision to build a world-class esports infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and provide new opportunities for players, fans and creators alike.

Viewers can tune in to the action live on ESL Arabia’s official channels across X, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. As anticipation builds for Friday’s final, the event promises not only elite-level Overwatch 2 gameplay, but a powerful statement of intent from a nation rapidly becoming a leader in global esports.