RIYADH: Saudi esports team Twisted Minds claimed victory against Dragons during the first ESL Saudi Challenge Grand Final, scooping the lion’s share of the tournament’s $20,000 prize pool.
They become the first team to hold the title of ESL Saudi Champions in the region’s first ESL competition dedicated exclusively to the Saudi Arabian gaming community.
In the semifinals, Dragons triumphed in a hard-fought best-of-five series to win 3-2, while Twisted Minds delivered a commanding performance with an unbeaten 4-0 sweep in a best-of-seven match. The finals featured Overwatch 2, an online, multiplayer, first-person shooter video game.
Twisted Minds member Ibrahim Al-Ali told Arab News his team’s key to a successful gameplan was practice.
“We do the basic stuff. We just practice before every tournament and keep practicing along the year … A typical day of practice for a professional player usually is basic practice in game (which is) two hours of practice with each team, (up to) four to six hours a day.”
Al-Ali has been playing Overwatch for nine years. His favorite character is “Widowmaker,” one of the game’s most popular heroes who is known for her powerful sniper rifle.
Founded in 2021, Twisted Minds is known for impressive gameplay and consistent performance. The team competes in Rocket League, EA Sports FC and PUBG and recently won the PUBG Global Series 6, after claiming victory in both Series 4 and 5.
Saudi Arabia boasts one of the region’s fastest-growing gaming sectors which is playing a pivotal role in the Kingdom’s transformation.
FACEIT is the digital platform offering of ESL FACEIT Group, a gaming and esports company procured for $1.5 billion in 2022 by Saudi Arabia’s Savvy Games Group, which is 100 percent owned by the country’s public investment fund.
