Joaquin Niemann and Cameron Smith target more success at season-opening LIV Golf Riyadh

Cameron Smith of Ripper GC hits his shot from the first tee during the first round of LIV Golf Jeddah 2024 in King Abdullah Economic City. (LIV Golf)
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Updated 29 January 2025
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Joaquin Niemann and Cameron Smith target more success at season-opening LIV Golf Riyadh

  • Chilean and Australian stars are ready to reignite battle in 2025 following dramatic playoff finish at Riyadh Golf Club in December

RIYADH: Torque GC captain Joaquin Niemann returns to Saudi Arabia for the 2025 LIV Golf season opener in Riyadh with fond memories of competing in the Kingdom.

The Chilean star landed the LIV Golf Jeddah title in the third event of the 2024 LIV Golf season, a month after lifting the LIV Golf Mayakoba trophy.

While the venue for the tournament in Saudi Arabia has moved to Riyadh this year, Niemann knows how to win there too. Only last month, he claimed victory at the PIF Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisors at Riyadh Golf Club, the 10th and final International Series event of 2024, where he beat Cameron Smith in a dramatic playoff.

Arab News spoke to the two players in the run-up to this year’s event.

AN: Looking ahead to 2025, how are you preparing to defend your title in Saudi Arabia, and what’s your mindset going into LIV Golf’s first event in Riyadh?

JN: “I’m pretty excited. I played there for the Saudi International back in December, so we were able to see the course and what it was going to be like. I think it’s going to be similar weather, too, so I’m excited to go back. There were good crowds, so it’s going to be a fun week.”

AN: What did the victory in Riyadh at the International Series event in December signify for you, and what does it feel like to have twice won in Saudi now?

JN: “It was pretty special. I feel like it was an interesting week because I was playing great, I felt like I had a great chance and I was almost getting it done on the last couple of holes but then it got a little bit complicated, Cam was playing great. It was a good experience. I played great on those playoff holes. I struggled on a few short putts but that’s part of it. It was great.”

AN: Having claimed two titles in Saudi, you’ve built a strong connection with the region, what do you enjoy most about playing and competing in Saudi — both on and off the course?

JN: “I’ve been playing great in Saudi. I don’t know… I just like Saudi, I think.

Australia’s Cameron Smith, meanwhile, returns to Riyadh Golf Club determined to go one better after his near miss at the event in December. The 2022 Open Champion led Ripper GC to Team Championship glory last season and is seeking a strong start to their title defense.

AN: Heading into LIV Golf Riyadh having finished as runner-up in the recent PIF Saudi International at Riyadh Golf Club, do you feel there’s any unfinished business to see to?

CS: “I really wasn’t expecting to finish where I finished on that last day, I had a great last day. It was such a blur, and I wasn’t expecting it. I like the golf course, it’s a golf course that lends itself well to me. There are plenty of wedges and plenty of birdie opportunities, so hopefully I can get back there and start the season off well and walk away with the trophy.”


Excitement building ahead of Formula E return to Jeddah

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Excitement building ahead of Formula E return to Jeddah

  • Fastest electric race car drivers will compete in the only night races on the Formula E calendar
  • Grammy Award-winning rapper and singer-songwriter Future will take to the stage for an unforgettable concert on Friday, Feb. 13

JEDDAH: With just 30 days to go excitement is building ahead of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship’s return to the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Feb. 13–14, 2026, following a record-breaking debut on the Red Sea Coast last season. The celebrated track — the world’s fastest street circuit — will once again be transformed into a floodlit showcase of speed and innovation as the fastest electric race car drivers compete in the only night races on the Formula E calendar.

The Jeddah E-Prix not only showcases the future of sustainable motorsport but also cements Saudi Arabia’s growing status as a global destination for major sporting events.

The 3.001km Jeddah Corniche Circuit is one of Formula E’s most exciting challenges: an anticlockwise street track lined with 19 sweeping turns and spectacular views of the Red Sea. Known for its speed and precision, it pushes drivers to their limits, while fans can look forward to daring overtakes and strategic battles as competitors hit the Attack Zone at Turn 13.

Fans can expect more than just wheel-to-wheel racing at the Jeddah E-Prix, with world-class live entertainment including a headline act by Grammy Award-winning rapper and singer-songwriter Future, who will take to the stage for an unforgettable concert on Friday, Feb. 13. Across the two-day event, fans can also explore interactive zones and enjoy a wide variety of food offerings alongside adrenaline-fueled entertainment experiences in the Fan Zone.

2025 JEDDAH E-PRIX — An Unforgettable Debut

Following six landmark seasons in Diriyah, the championship’s move to Jeddah in 2025 had an immediate impact, with last year’s double-header becoming the most-watched Formula E weekend in history, attracting more than 65 million viewers worldwide.

Indeed, the Jeddah E-Prix weekend delivered non-stop drama under the lights, with the action going right down to the wire on the first night. In a thrilling final-lap showdown, Maximilian Günther claimed a commanding win for DS Penske in Friday’s race, with Oliver Rowland hot on his heels and Taylor Barnard — then driving for NEOM McLaren — completing the podium.

Twenty-four hours later, Rowland turned the tables, charging to victory on Saturday ahead of Barnard and Jake Hughes — then driving for Maserati — to close out an electric weekend of racing by the Red Sea.

Off-track, the Jeddah E-Prix had no shortage of star power. Global music icons Akon and Grammy Award-winning rapper Lil Baby lit up the fan stage with unforgettable headline performances, keeping the energy high long after the chequered flag.

The event also drew a glittering crowd of VIP guests, from boxing star Chris Eubank Jr. and footballer Riyad Mahrez to Georgina Rodríguez, entrepreneur, model, and partner to Cristiano Ronaldo, underscoring the E-Prix’s growing reputation as a must-attend fixture on the global sporting and entertainment calendar.

Formula E Drivers Full of Praise

Drivers and podium finishers from last season’s Jeddah E-Prix hailed the race weekend as a resounding success, praising the circuit and Saudi Arabia’s renowned hospitality

Season 11 Drivers’ Champion and Round 4 Jeddah E-Prix winner, Oliver Rowland (Nissan), is excited to return to Jeddah next month commenting: “The night race with the lights and the spectacle is one of the best things about Jeddah…I had a really successful weekend finishing first and second in Season 11, so I’m really looking forward to Season 12 and hopefully we can do the same.”

Maximilian Günther (DS Penske), who secured his first victory with DS Penske in the Round 3 Jeddah E-Prix, also praised last year’s race weekend: “Jeddah was fantastic for us. We had a great pace, great strategy on that day. We achieved pole position and the race win, so I have very good memories of Jeddah. I think the whole event is outstanding. The track is so good, so fast and just a perfect fit for Formula E because you really saw the speed of the cars, overtaking — perfect mix for year one. There is a lot of enthusiasm about motorsports in Saudi... I just enjoy being there. Everything is very well organized. We get an amazing welcome.”

Nyck de Vries (Mahindra) was also impressed, commenting: “The Jeddah race last year was very good for us, especially on Saturday. We were happy to be fighting at the front and to score a top five finish (P4). I think racing under the floodlights always makes the racing a little bit more exciting and dramatic. All the emotions are a bit amplified. So, I personally really enjoyed the race.”

The drivers’ undeniable enthusiasm and excitement at returning to Jeddah further underlines why the Jeddah E-Prix is one of the most eagerly anticipated stops on the Formula E calendar, showcasing the Jeddah Corniche Circuit— and Saudi Arabia— as a world-class stage for elite motorsport.

Season 12 – The Season So Far

Season 12 kicked off on December 6, 2025, where Andretti Formula E’s Jake Dennis converted his pole position into a victory in a hectic season opening race. It marked Dennis’ first win since Diriyah in 2024.

Last weekend’s second round in Mexico City was another thrilling race where Citroën Racing’s Nick Cassidy made up 12 positions in a calculated, pitch-perfect drive to head home Edoardo Mortara (Mahindra Racing) and reigning champion Oliver Rowland (Nissan Formula E Team) for a win in only the French automotive giant’s second race in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

This result now sees Cassidy top the Drivers’ table with 40 points to Dennis’ 36 and Rowland with 34. Citroën leads Andretti in the Teams’ Standings 44 to 36 points. In the Manufacturers’ World Championship, Stellantis has a seven-point lead on Porsche.

Ahead of the all-electric series’ return to the Middle East, the championship will first continue with Round 3 in Miami on 31 January 2026 at the Miami International Autodrome, located at the Hard Rock Stadium, where another exhilarating instalment of Season 12 awaits.

JEDDAH E-PRIX TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW

With record crowds expected and the world’s top drivers returning to battle under the lights, the 2026 Jeddah E-Prix promises to deliver an unforgettable showcase of speed, innovation, and spectacle on the shores of the Red Sea.

Tickets for the much-anticipated event are now on sale via WeBook, starting from 100 SAR for single day passes and 180 SAR for two-day access.