RIYADH: The Saudi Esports Federation on Thursday night hosted the sixth edition of the SEF Awards presented by J Event, an annual awards ceremony celebrating the outstanding achievements of the Kingdom’s gaming ecosystem.

Held at SEF Arena at Boulevard Riyadh City, the SEF Awards featured a total of 22 categories, including three new categories for 2025. The glittering ceremony shone a spotlight on teams, individuals and emerging talent that have made the biggest impact on the gaming industry, both in Saudi Arabia and internationally.

Award categories for 2025 included Best Rising Player, Best Female Player, Best FPS Genre Player, Best Sports Genre Player, Best Battle Royale Player, Best Fighting Game Player, Best MOBA Genre Player, Best Club, Best Rising Club, Best Roster, Best Coach, Best Esports Media Coverage, Best Streamer, Best Rising Streamer, Best Content Creator, Best Rising Content Creator, Best Female Talent, Best Rising Talent, Best Analyst/Desk Host, Best Caster, Best Stage Host, and Best Rising Female Player. 

His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, chairman of the SEF, said: “Today, we celebrate the spirit of innovation and passion that defines the esports and gaming community. Over the past year, our youth have achieved remarkable milestones, showcasing their skills and further cementing the Kingdom’s presence on the global stage. This year, we honor excellence across 22 diverse categories, each reflecting stories of perseverance, determination and innovation. The federation remains committed to empowering this vibrant community, guided by ambitions without boundaries. Our sector’s future is bright, thanks to the unwavering support of our leadership.”

In a year where Saudi Arabia excelled on the global esports scene, the SEF Awards 2025 highlighted the achievements of numerous local teams and gamers. Twisted Minds were crowned Club Cross-Game Champions in the Saudi eLeagues, while Team Falcons reinforced their dominance by lifting the Esports World Cup 2025 trophy for the second year in a row. The Saudi National Team celebrated a remarkable year, winning gold in Rocket League and Tekken 8 at the 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games and marking Tala Al-Mazrou’s historic eFootball triumph at the 3rd Asian Youth Games, becoming the first Saudi female athlete to win gold at the Asian Games.

“The SEF Awards 2025 are a powerful reflection of the rapid maturity within our gaming ecosystem,” said Rawan Al-Butairi, CEO of the SEF. “As we mark the sixth edition, we are recognizing the professional standards and competitive excellence that now define Saudi Arabia’s esports landscape. This event stands as a key milestone in our National Gaming and Esports Strategy, showcasing our progress in transforming the Kingdom into the world’s premier global gaming hub. By empowering and celebrating our athletes and creators today, we are securing a sustainable legacy for the generations of tomorrow.”

As well as esports professionals and coaches, the SEF Awards look to recognize key contributors to the industry, including content creators, streamers, coaches and esports professionals whose efforts are an integral part of building an inclusive and dynamic esports ecosystem. This year’s edition of the awards was presented by J Event and sponsored by Golden Scent, NES, Nova, Richy and The Chefz.

The winners of the 22 categories at the 2025 SEF Awards are:

Best Rising Player Presented by J Event: Ziyad Al-Kathiri

Best Female Player Presented by The Chefz: Modhi Al-Kanhal

Best FPS Genre Player: Ahmed Al-Youbi

Best Sports Genre Player Presented by FIFAe: Yazeed Bakhashwin

Best Battle Royale Player Presented by NES: Abdulrahman Al-Fahad

Best Fighting Game Player: Raef Al-Turkistani

Best MOBA Genre Player: Moath Al-Quraini

Best Club Presented by Richy: Team Falcons

Best Rising Club Presented by Richy: Team Stallions

Best Roster Presented by J Event: Twisted Minds — Overwatch

Best Coach: Abdulrahman bin Fayez

Best Esports Media Coverage: Coverage Esports

Best Streamer Presented by J Event: Mofareh Al-Asiri

Best Rising Streamer Presented by The Chefz: Waleed Al-Shamali

Best Content Creator Presented by Golden Scent: Yusuf Hannawi

Best Rising Content Creator Presented by NES: Abdulaziz Al-Mohammadi

Best Female Talent Presented by Golden Scent: Ghala Al-Qahtani

Best Rising Talent: Zaid Al-Farag

Best Analyst/Desk Host: Mohammed Al-Enezi

Best Caster: Ali Darraj

Best Stage Host: Abdulaziz Al-Muhanna

Best Rising Female Player Presented by NES: Tala Al-Mazrou