Saudi Esports Federation Leads With New Global Sport Conference For Esports Future

Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF), highlighted the significance of the New Global Sport Conference as a pivotal step towards a promising future for games and esports. He shared his views during the second day of the conference, which concluded yesterday in Riyadh. The event featured over 60 international speakers and attracted more than 1,200 entrepreneurs and experts.

"Saudi Arabia's commitment to the gaming and esports sector and its confidence in it has become a reality that the whole world sees, and the support of HRH the Crown Prince is the motivation for all of us to continue the path of development and innovation to make the Kingdom the center of the game and the home of global events," Prince Faisal bin Bandar said. The conference hosted over 200 prominent global chief executives from various sectors including esports, sports, technology, entertainment, business, and investment.

The second day included six panel discussions focusing on how esports positively impacts other industries. These discussions also explored how esports has grown from a niche subculture into a global phenomenon. Additionally, they examined how esports can integrate with traditional sports to offer unique entertainment experiences while fostering economic growth and community engagement.

One session delved into how audiences form long-term attachments to games, making them part of their culture. Another session explored intersections between gaming and other creative sectors such as art, fashion, filmmaking, and creativity. This highlights how diverse fields can benefit from integrating gaming elements.

A special session at the conference brought attention to chess as one of the oldest competitive sports. Esports World Cup Foundation chief executive Ralf Reichert and world chess champion Magnus Carlsen shared their insights in a session titled "Chess, Esports: Strategy Redefined Together: From the Chessboard to the Digital Arena."

Chess in Digital Arena

"The essence of the Esports World Cup is gaming," said Reichert. "When you set the rules, you format the competition, you have a winner and a loser, and that's how it all developed. The same goes for traditional sports, including chess." Carlsen added that chess has evolved significantly to include many digital elements.

"Chess has really evolved a lot to become more digital and has many Esports elements," he said. "I think the game in the Esports arena is an exciting opportunity. You play chess online, so there's already that element in the game – but we need a different environment with a bigger audience and a better offer." Carlsen is known for being a five-time world chess champion at 33 years old.

The New Global Sport Conference underscored Saudi Arabia's dedication to advancing its gaming industry. By hosting such events, Saudi Arabia aims to position itself as a central hub for global gaming activities.

With inputs from SPA