Esports World Cup Kicks Off in Saudi Arabia

The Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan. SPA
The Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan. SPA
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Esports World Cup Kicks Off in Saudi Arabia

The Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan. SPA
The Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan. SPA

The Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, has expressed confidence that the Esports World Cup held in the Kingdom will offer a unique experience, bringing together professionals, fans, and publishers to drive the industry forward and create exciting opportunities for all.

Prince Faisal spoke on Tuesday at a press conference in Riyadh to mark the opening of the Esports World Cup, taking place from July 3 to August 25. The tournament has garnered significant attention from the global gaming and esports community and is expected to make a substantial impact.

The CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, Ralf Reichert, described the tournament as "a remarkable celebration" that unites the international community through gaming and esports.

He highlighted that it represents a major step forward for the esports industry, promoting its growth and sustainability. Reichert expressed enthusiasm for the event's potential, where top esports clubs and players will compete for major prizes and the title of Esports World Cup champion.

Furthermore, the Chief Product Officer of the Esports World Cup, Faisal bin Homran, noted that there are currently 3.4 billion players worldwide.

"The upcoming tournament is an eagerly anticipated experience, and over the next eight weeks, it will lead to an unprecedented transformation in the gaming and esports landscape,” he said.

Homran invited people from around the world to witness the competition among global club players, making it a truly global celebration of excellence and fostering competition in the esports industry.

The Esports World Cup, taking place at Riyadh City Boulevard, positions Riyadh as a global destination for esports enthusiasts. With 22 championships in popular games and a prize pool exceeding $60 million, it offers the largest total prize pool in esports history.

Visitors can enjoy numerous events, activities, and interactive shows suitable for all ages, combining sports, entertainment, education, culture, and creativity.



Sinner and Alcaraz Breeze through Shanghai Masters Openers

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain reacts during his Men's Singles match against Juncheng Shang of China at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai, China, 05 October 2024. (EPA)
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain reacts during his Men's Singles match against Juncheng Shang of China at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai, China, 05 October 2024. (EPA)
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Sinner and Alcaraz Breeze through Shanghai Masters Openers

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain reacts during his Men's Singles match against Juncheng Shang of China at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai, China, 05 October 2024. (EPA)
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain reacts during his Men's Singles match against Juncheng Shang of China at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai, China, 05 October 2024. (EPA)

Carlos Alcaraz and top-ranked Jannik Sinner showed no signs of fatigue from their China Open final earlier this week to advance with comfortable straight-set victories in their opening matches of the Shanghai Masters on Saturday.

The second-ranked Alcaraz, who beat the Italian in Beijing on Wednesday for his fourth title of the year, recorded his 10th consecutive win with a 6-2, 6-2 result against 19-year-old Shang Juncheng of China.

The 21-year-old Spaniard won the first nine points of the match and four of seven break points as he rushed into a third-round meeting with another Chinese player, Wu Yibing.

“I’m not used to playing against players younger than me,” Alcaraz said. “He has been playing good tennis lately, lifting his first ATP (title in Chengdu), so I’m pretty sure he’s going to climb the rankings. I’m just happy to to be able to win these kinds of matches.”

Sinner, who is dealing with an ongoing doping case, had a comfortable 6-1, 6-4 outing against Taro Daniel of Japan for his 250th career win.

The Italian, who won the US Open last month for his second major of the year, fired 12 aces and 38 winners.

“I felt quite comfortable today,” said the 23-year-old Sinner, who next plays Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina. “I feel in good shape also physically, which is very important for me. Of course I will try to improve for tomorrow’s performance, but today I was serving really, really well, especially in important moments, and was moving well.”

No. 65-ranked Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic broke sixth-ranked Andrey Rublev seven times on his way to an upset 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-3 victory.

Yosuke Watanuki also had a surprise win, beating No. 35-ranked Brendan Nakashima 7-6 (4), 6-3. The Japanese qualifier plays either seventh-ranked Taylor Fritz of the US or French qualifier Terence Atmane next.

Also, 24th-ranked Alexei Popyrin of Australia beat Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia 6-3, 6-2.

Later Saturday, third-ranked Alexander Zverev began his campaign against Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci, while fourth-ranked Novak Djokovic faced Alex Michelsen of the United States.