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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 ������Ƶ’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:
• Twisted Minds, last year’s cross-game champions, remain unshaken at the top with an impressive 912 points. Their dominance across multiple titles continues to set the standard for consistency and excellence.
• Team Falcons hold second place with 705 points, delivering solid performances across major titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Valorant, proving their resilience as perennial contenders.
• Al-Qadsiah Esports, the breakout team of the season, sit third with 618 points. With standout victories in both the men’s and women’s brackets, they are proving a force to be reckoned with.

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 ������Ƶ’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.”

RIYADH: Riyadh is to welcome global leaders from sport, electronic sports, and entertainment at the New Global Sport Conference 2025 on Aug. 23-24 at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Organized by the Esports World Cup Foundation, the event coincides with the closing weekend of the Esports World Cup, the world’s largest event of its type.

Called “The Next Game — Building the Future of Gaming, Esports, and Sports,” the conference will bring together more than 1,500 industry leaders for keynotes, strategy sessions, and high-level networking.

Confirmed speakers include Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, president of the Saudi Esports Federation; Casey Wasserman, chairman of LA28; Toshimoto Mitomo, Sony’s chief strategy officer; and World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen. Senior executives from Activision, Sega, Bandai Namco, Disney, and CBS Sports will also participate.

Ralf Reichert, the CEO of EWCF, said the event was occurring at a time of transformation, and added: “As the boundaries between sports, e-sports, entertainment, and technology dissolve, this event becomes the premier global stage for leaders to explore new horizons and create groundbreaking collaborations."

Tickets are now available at www.newglobalsportconference.com. Additional speakers and the full programme will be announced soon.