PARIS, 15 July 2005 — On July 10, a Saudi team brought home the world cup in an international tournament for the first time in 15 years.

Hakim Badr (aka Arabian Joker) won the world cup in Pro Evolution Soccer 4, beating the Carribean champion “Mike” in the Electronic Sports World Cup held in Le Musee du Louvre in Paris.

Throughout the tournament Badr laid waste to his opponents in heart-pounding matches of simulated football. The final was especially impressive; one of the managing officials of the tournament was overheard saying “Now THIS is sports,” referring to the jubilant vocal fanfare coming from the Caribbean and Saudi fans.

Each crowd of fans tried to outdo each other with cheers and singing in order to encourage their players. “The Caribbean fans outnumbered us,” Yasser Al-Bahjatt, one of the Saudi supporters said, “but we were louder.” Later, Badr stated that this factor contributed to his victory of 3-2 over the Caribbean player.

The tournament included several different game genres including car racing (Gran Turismo 4), team-based gameplay (Counterstrike), Football (Pro Evolution Soccer 4), strategy (Warcraft 3) and two solo shooter games; Unreal Tournament 2005 and Quake 3. Fans from some of the 50 countries represented came to support their teams, the Saudi team being the loudest and most often heard at games.

The team’s progress throughout the tournament slowed as the Saudi players were systematically eliminated in all the games played, excepting Badr’s progress to the finals. The Counterstrike team was the most disappointing.

Their performance was worse than in the qualifying rounds held earlier in the Kingdom. Several of the teams which the “Chosen 5” (the team’s chosen nickname) played against, were quite tough. However they had no real inclination to do well except “have fun” according to one player. It is truly a shame, that having worked and competed hard to take place in a world finals event they did not really try and compete. Other teams, such as the female Counterstrike team from the USA (Girls Got Game) practiced for “11 hours a day, 10 days prior to the tournament,” according to their team captain. Coupled with their long time experience as a team this made them an unstoppable force at the tournament.

The male Counterstrike team from the USA “practiced for eight days straight in the basement,” refining strategies according to Aaron, the American team manager.

The Saudi team did none of this; they practiced but nowhere near as intensively as these teams.