Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The Saudi national Overwatch 2 team secured the championship at the World Cup held in California, featuring 36 participating teams.

The Saudi team emerged victorious over their Chinese counterparts with a 3-2 scoreline, marking the Kingdom's first-ever title in Overwatch.

The event kicked off on Jan. 25, 2023, with group stage qualifiers where the Saudi team dominated, outperforming Japan, the United States, and France.

This led them to the tournament's finals, played in an elimination format.

The Saudi team triumphed over Spain with a 3-0 score, faced Finland in the semifinals securing a 3-2 win, and went on to win a dramatic final against China, overturning a 2-0 deficit to claim the coveted title.

The Saudi team's championship journey was flawless, showcasing exceptional individual and collective performances by players Majed Al-Rasheed, Alhamidi Al-Rowaili, Abdulilah Al-Fayfi, Ibrahim Al-Ali, Ahmed Al-Youbi, Osama Abdullah, and Fahad Al-Aqaili.

The qualifiers and finals witnessed the presence of Prince Faisal Bin Bandar, president of the Saudi Arabian Esports Federation, along with Ahmed Al-Busheri, Deputy CEO of the Saudi Arabian Esports Federation, and Faisal binhomran, CEO of Esports at the Federation, demonstrating their support for the team throughout their quest for the championship.

Prince Faisal expressed his pride and joy in the team's victory, stating,

"Saudi Arabia's win of the Overwatch 2 World Cup and the acquisition of our first gold medal in the history of Saudi esports is evidence that we are on the right path towards achieving our goals of being at the forefront of esports globally and a source of champions representing the Kingdom on various international stages."

He added: "The passion and collaboration among the players highlight the significant growth witnessed in the Saudi esports community."