New Global Sports Conference brings ‘incredible assembly of leaders’ from gaming and sports, says Ralf Reichert

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Updated 24 August 2024
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New Global Sports Conference brings ‘incredible assembly of leaders’ from gaming and sports, says Ralf Reichert

New Global Sports Conference brings ‘incredible assembly of leaders’ from gaming and sports, says Ralf Reichert
  • Esports World Cup Foundation CEO spoke to Arab News about the conference that concludes 8-week star-studded tournament

RIYADH: As the New Global Sports Conference takes place in Riyadh over the weekend, one man in particular will look back on the summer with immense pride.

Ralf Reichert, the CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, has just overseen a tournament of 22 competitions, across eight weeks, with prize money of $60 million on offer.

The theme of the second edition of the NGSC is “The Future of Fandom” and, appropriately for Reichert, the fan engagement at the Esports World Cup exceeded all expectations.

“I think every sport is as good as its fans are, if you really think about this,” Reichert told Arab News. “So, the fans are almost the result of the success of the sport. So, us bringing an incredible assembly of leaders from gaming, esports and sports together in one place, at a quality that has never happened anywhere in the world before, is a testament to the Esports World Cup and its draw, and its relevance already in the industry. But as well, it is an incredible opportunity to think about how these three industries can continue to foster and grow their collaboration.”

Reichert says it is important to appreciate the “additional” value that the Esports World Cup brings to the market.

“It’s not replacing anything, it’s not competing with anything,” he said. “It’s adding something to make esports and gaming, as a whole, bigger. And conferences are a unique opportunity to really collaborate and work together to try to design the future, to improve the future.”

As the Esports World Cup entered its final weekend, Reichert declared the organizers “incredibly happy” with how the event had gone.

“I think, first and foremost, the players and the clubs, the core of the sport, worked super well,” he said. “We have an amazing winner with Team Falcons — they truly deserve it. We have changed the lives of many of these players for the better, and gave them career opportunities they would have never had.

“The fans turned up for the tournament itself; we had full stadiums most of the time, we had an incredible experience on the festival. We had many, many viewership records broken, and, last but not least, the mainstream media and international coverage has been way beyond everything we ever expected.

“We knew that the Esports World Cup will make a difference for the sport and the public perception of video games and esports. But I think it’s much, much bigger and faster than we ever hoped for.”

The summer-long Esports World Cup saw a major upscale, in terms of length, prize money and number of competitions, over its predecessor, Gamers8.

“We designed it in a way that it can survive the eight weeks and we made sure that we treat every week like it’s the last week,” said Reichert. “We really tried to add clear stories, clear highlights from the sport and beyond the sport. That included many visits of international celebrities, specifically from the football world, which just shows how close these are together, how big the cultural impact of video games is these days, because all of these international sports stars are younger than 30, Millennials, Gen Z almost.”

Among those who visited Boulevard Riyadh City were Al-Hilal and Brazil star Neymar, Liverpool’s Portuguese forward Diogo Jota and former Netherlands midfielder Wesley Sneijder.

“We know for a fact that all of them are gamers,” Reichert said. “It shows how this is a cultural place for relevant athletes to meet from within the sport segment and then beyond it. It gives us great and very authentic content, which it seems like the world enjoyed and wanted to take part in.

“That’s what we tried to give to the people of Riyadh and to the world.”

With 22 tournaments taking place across the summer-long tournament, the Esports World Cup provided opportunities for male and female gamers in greater numbers than ever before.

“If we look at what we tried to create in terms of the environment, the number one priority was that the players come here, have a great time, have the environment to be at their best as an athlete, while at the same time, learn about the country and enjoy the hospitality,” said Reichert.

“They’re celebrities in their own regards. I have still to find any negative feedback from any of these athletes. It’s the opposite. I think, number one, we are clearly seen to be the tournament that takes best care of the players. And to a degree where we almost spoil them — and that’s a good thing, that’s our intent.

“Number two, a lot of them said that this was one of the best, if not the best tournament they ever attended in terms of coverage, and how it’s done and access as well, including the mainstream media coverage,” he added.

“And three, which is super important, we have the highest prize money that has ever been in esports, with $60 million. So, we could really change the lives of many of these players. There are players who have won more this summer than they have in their entire career before. We have many people who will go home and have a better life for their family. And that is a very, very good feeling.”

Fan engagement, at Boulevard Riyadh City and online, has been one of the successes of the event, according to the 49-year-old German national.

“I think that a sport creates moments that, you know, almost no other sort of entertainment can do, because you’re celebrating a moment with other people live in an event,” Reichert said. “This is the ultimate experience for any sport event, and it’s new to the Kingdom at that scale.

“So, to build this culture, to build this as the epicenter of esports, where we’re going to fill stadiums, full stadiums in the future, this is a super important milestone. We got it done with only 1,000 people at once in the venue this year, but that is still significantly bigger than anything else that ever happened in the region. So, we see this as an intermediate step to continue to grow the culture of fandom.”

Reichert said that the NGSC conference will be “super important” for the how sports will be consumed by fans in the future.

“The best games, the best players, part of the best clubs. But then the fans really complete the experience and the product. We built it and they came, and that makes us a full success.”

Reichert reserved special praise for Saudi Arabia’s Team Falcons, who claimed the Esports World Cup Club Championship.

“I think Team Falcons, from day one, they were favorites in the competition and specifically in the first two weeks, where they won two games. They outperformed the competition.

“The Esports World Cup Club Championship is a new format where it’s really about winning as many games as possible. Think about them like disciplines. Falcons basically went all in on this. They took a much higher risk. They doubled down on this competition.”

Reichert said that Team Falcons fielded 18 rosters throughout the 22 tournaments that were on offer, while the second team, Twisted Minds, and the third team, Fnatic, offered 13 and 10, respectively.

“I think it (the Falcons victory) means the world for the region,” he added. “It’s probably the first time that a Saudi sports team wins the competition at that scale. So, it is incredible for the sports.”

Reichert said that he is “incredibly excited” at the list of speakers taking part in the NGSC as well as some of star guests and athletes who will be present.

“Magnus Carlsen is a GOAT of Chess, FalleN is a GOAT of Counter-Strike, which is one of our most important games. We’ll have people from the Olympics speaking about the Olympic Esports Games. We’ll have many people from the sports sector, the CEO of the Saudi Olympic Committee, and many, many of the most important people from the game publisher scene, the people who create these games.”

The announcement of the Esports Olympics, to be held in Saudi Arabia in 2025, holds particular significance for Reichert and the organizers of the Esports World Cup.

“It couldn’t come at a better time,” he said. “It’s the summer of sports, almost. The Esports World Cup is on its way to be successfully culminated, and the Olympics, as the oldest and largest traditional sports competition, announcing that it will have an esports edition, is fantastic for everyone involved. It will be one of the key drivers in bringing even more fandom to the sport.”


England face searching Ashes questions after India series thriller

England face searching Ashes questions after India series thriller
Updated 9 sec ago
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England face searching Ashes questions after India series thriller

England face searching Ashes questions after India series thriller

LONDON: England suffered an agonizing six-run loss to India at the Oval on Monday as one of the most dramatic Test series of recent times ended in a 2-2 draw.

Their next major red-ball assignment is a five-match Ashes series away to arch-rivals Australia — where England have gone 15 Tests without a win — starting in November.

Here are some of the key issues that emerged from England’s rollercoaster contest with India and what they mean for their quest to regain the Ashes “Down Under.”

What England gain from having Ben Stokes in their side was never more evident than when their inspirational captain missed the fifth Test with a shoulder injury — a fresh worry following his history of hamstring trouble.

The 34-year-old all-rounder was the most threatening member of England’s attack against India, taking 17 wickets at 25 in 140 overs — the most he has bowled in a series.

Stokes also looked back to his best with the bat, scoring 141 in England’s mammoth total of 669 in the drawn fourth Test at Old Trafford. By contrast specialist opener Zak Crawley failed to reach three figures in nine innings.

And at the Oval, the sight of vice-captain Ollie Pope running off to the dressing room to receive what appeared to be tactical guidance from Stokes did not say much for England’s depth of leadership.

England limited-overs captain Harry Brook, also a mainstay of the Test team and a lively skipper in the Stokes mold, could yet prove a better fit as vice-captain against Australia.

England have long believed a battery of genuinely fast bowlers is essential if they are to win an Ashes series in Australia for the first time since 2010/11.

But fitness issues could blight their best-laid plans.

Jofra Archer made an encouraging return to Test cricket against India but played just two matches as England looked to manage the express paceman’s workload.

Mark Wood, another bowler with genuine pace, has not played Test cricket for nearly 12 months and had knee surgery earlier this year.

The inconsistent Josh Tongue’s return of 19 wickets at under 30 in the India series could well see him selected for Ashes duty, with Gus Atkinson’s five-wicket haul on his return to Test duty at the Oval doing his cause no harm.

England, and Stokes in particular, have shown huge faith in Shoaib Bashir, a 21-year-old off-spinner unable to hold down a regular place in a county side but who has now taken 68 wickets in 19 Tests at 39.

In the India series, Bashir’s 10 wickets came at an expensive average of 54.1, before a finger injury ruled him out of the last two Tests.

But Hampshire stalwart Liam Dawson failed to seize his chance in the drawn fourth Test, with Stokes appearing to tell the left-armer where he should be bowling on the Old Trafford pitch.

Leicestershire’s 20-year-old leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed, already England’s youngest Test cricketer, is another option.

England, however, didn’t bother with a specialist spinner at the Oval, deploying Joe Root and Jacob Bethell — clean bowled following a reckless charge down the pitch during a second-innings collapse — for a mere 11 overs combined.

But former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes England should stick with Bashir for the Ashes because of his similarity to outstanding Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon.

“Australia will have probably three or four left-handers in their line-up which will aid the right-arm off-spinner as well,” Ponting told Sky Sports. “And it’s the over-spin that you need in Australia.”


Jorge Costa, Champions League winning captain of Porto, dies at 53

Jorge Costa, Champions League winning captain of Porto, dies at 53
Updated 05 August 2025
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Jorge Costa, Champions League winning captain of Porto, dies at 53

Jorge Costa, Champions League winning captain of Porto, dies at 53
  • Costa was Porto’s director of football at the time of his death
  • The club said in their announcement that Costa embodied Porto’s values

PORTO: Jorge Costa, who captained Porto to the 2004 Champions League title, died Tuesday of cardiac arrest, the club said. He was 53.

Costa, a central defender who made 50 international appearances for Portugal, was Porto’s director of football at the time of his death.

The club said in their announcement that Costa embodied Porto’s values: “dedication, leadership, passion, and an unwavering spirit of conquest.”

Portuguese media reported that Costa sustained cardiac arrest at the club’s training center and was transported to São João Hospital.

Costa’s finest achievement in his playing career was as captain of Jose Mourinho’s Porto team that was a surprise winner of the Champions League in 2004. A year earlier, he lifted the second-tier UEFA Cup.

Costa also helped Porto win eight Portuguese league titles.

He spent a short period on loan at English team Charlton in the 2001-02 season.

“To hear of a life taken at 53 is never nice to hear, but he’s a former teammate who had such a great standing in the game and captained a Champions League winning side,” said Steve Brown, chair of Charlton’s ex-players’ association.

“He was loved at Charlton, a man mountain of a player and a great guy too.”


Algeria upset Uganda in CHAN opener

Algeria upset Uganda in CHAN opener
Updated 05 August 2025
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Algeria upset Uganda in CHAN opener

Algeria upset Uganda in CHAN opener
  • Man of the match Meziane was on target himself on 76 minutes
  • Three minutes later Sofiane Bayazid put the result beyond doubt

NAIROBI: Algeria thumped Uganda 3-0 in their opening African Nations Championships (CHAN) Group C match in Kampala on Monday.

Uganda’s defeat means it is the only co-hosting nation to lose their CHAN opening match following twin victories for Tanzania and Kenya over the weekend.

Ayoub Ghezala rose high to head in an Abderrahmane Meziane cross at the near post for the Desert Foxes before the break.

Man of the match Meziane was on target himself on 76 minutes with a superb left-footed curler from the edge of the box.

Three minutes later Sofiane Bayazid put the result beyond doubt after a one-two combination

with left-back Naoufel Khacef.

Uganda were left ruing two missed chances when Joel Ssrunjogi and Patrick Kakande’s long range efforts were thwarted by Algerian keeper Zakaria Boulhalfaya.

Uganda next meet Guinea who got their campaign off to a winning start with a 1-0 win over Niger in a tie that required frequent use of video assistant referee (VAR).

Teenage striker Mohammed Bangoura atoned for an early miss with the only goal two minutes into the second half which was confirmed after a VAR review, having initially been ruled offside.


Reports: LAFC agree to terms with Tottenham for Son Heung-Min

Reports: LAFC agree to terms with Tottenham for Son Heung-Min
Updated 05 August 2025
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Reports: LAFC agree to terms with Tottenham for Son Heung-Min

Reports: LAFC agree to terms with Tottenham for Son Heung-Min
  • LAFC will pay a transfer fee of around $26 million, GiveMeSport and ESPN reported
  • Son, 33, announced over the weekend that he planned to leave Tottenham

LONDON: Son Heung-min, who spent 10 seasons with Tottenham Hotspur and stars for the South Korea national team, has a deal in place to join Los Angeles FC, according to multiple reports.

LAFC will pay a transfer fee of around $26 million, GiveMeSport and ESPN reported, which would break the Major League Soccer record of $22 million that Atlanta United paid to acquire Emmanuel Latte Lath last offseason.

Son, 33, announced over the weekend that he planned to leave Tottenham, saying he achieved everything that he could with the North London club and he was interested in a new challenge.

Tottenham faced Newcastle United in a friendly in Seoul, which served as Son’s farewell match. He received a standing ovation and a guard of honor and said he had “a huge respect and am very grateful” to his old club.

Son scored 172 goals and added 94 assists in 451 matches for Tottenham across all competitions, with 127 coming in Premier League play. A team captain, he helped the Spurs win the 2025 Europa League for the first major trophy of his career.

He previously played in Bundesliga for Hamburger SV and Bayer Leverkusen.

Son has also scored 51 goals in 134 matches for South Korea, the country’s second-leading goal-scorer of all time. Son played in the past three World Cups.

In LAFC — who also acquired defender Ryan Porteous from Watford on Monday — Son is joining a decorated MLS team that’s vying for another playoff berth. Los Angeles (10-6-6, 36 points) is sixth in the Western Conference.


Ibrahim Albassam: From school champion to Saudi eLeague competitor

 Ibrahim Albassam: From school champion to Saudi eLeague competitor
Updated 05 August 2025
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Ibrahim Albassam: From school champion to Saudi eLeague competitor

 Ibrahim Albassam: From school champion to Saudi eLeague competitor
  • The 16-year-old Saudi talent has signed for Twisted Minds following promising performances in the School eLeague
  • Progression from School eLeague to professional level propelled by Saudi Esports Federation’s investment in grassroots development

RIYADH: Few achieve their dreams by the age of 16. Yet, fresh from high school, Ibrahim Albassam has already achieved a key life goal, leveling up to go from a gaming fan to an electronic sports professional, joining Twisted Minds as a pro player.

While millions around the globe battle it out daily in “EA Sports FC 25,” only the best of the best get to cross the white line and go for glory as a professional player.

As in real football, goals win games in “EA Sports FC 25,” and Albassam knows how to hit the back of the net, but progressing to a pro was a steep learning curve as he balanced his studies with his newfound career.

“Balancing my life as a student and with competitive e-sports was a critical part of my early journey,” he explained. 

“I always made it a priority to stay focused on my studies and exams, while also dedicating time daily for practise and improvement. That discipline helped shape my mindset as a player, learning how to manage pressure, stay consistent, and remain committed to both education and gaming.

“I truly believe that when you’re passionate about something, you’ll always find the time to pursue it and succeed. During that time, I practiced consistently for one to two hours each day to stay sharp and improve my performance.”

Albassam began his e-sports journey through the School eLeague. His talent quickly stood out leading him to represent the Eastern Province in the “EA Sports FC 25” tournament, where he delivered strong performances.

After winning first place in the School eLeague Championship, he was signed by Twisted Minds, one of the Kingdom’s leading e-sports organizations.

“The School eLeague was my first step into the professional scene and served as the gateway for me to join one of the top teams in Saudi Arabia, Twisted Minds and represent them in the Saudi eLeague ‘EA FC 25’ tournament,” explains Albassam. 

“The biggest difference I noticed was the level of intensity and seriousness. In the Saudi eLeague, you’re facing top-tier players from every club, each with their own achievements and experience.

“It’s a much more competitive environment, which forces you to grow, learn, and elevate your game quickly. On top of that, representing a team like Twisted Minds adds even more motivation to perform, win, and continue developing as a professional.”

Albassam’s success is one of many examples of the Saudi Esports Federation’s success in investing in grassroots development, creating pathways for talent to progress, compete at the highest level and represent Saudi Arabia in the global e-sports scene.

The Schools eLeague, organized by the Saudi Esports Federation in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, has become a hotbed for talent and a platform for aspiring players to learn, develop and showcase their abilities with opportunities to take the leap into careers in e-sports.

Albassam is grateful for the opportunities available to young players in the Kingdom and for the support of his family who were initially unsure about his ambitions but were quickly convinced that e-sports is a significant focus area for Saudi Arabia, with young players like him at the forefront of its progression.

“At first, my family had some concerns about me pursuing a professional career in gaming, which is understandable, as they hadn’t seen or experienced the opportunities in esports the way our generation has,” Albassam explained. 

“Over time, they began to recognize the potential of this industry and how a passion for gaming can evolve into a legitimate and promising career path, especially with the level of support e-sports is receiving here in the Kingdom.

“As always, they stood by me. Like with any emerging field, initial doubt is natural, but once it becomes real, it becomes normal.”