JEDDAH, 2 July 2006 — Twenty-one-year-old Saudi, Badr Hakeem, winner of last year’s Electronic Sports World Cup (ESWC), has stepped down from participating in this year’s championship in protest against the Zionist state of Israel after he was drawn to play an Israeli gamer.
“Unfortunately, the draw put me against an Israeli player and due to our stand against the Israeli aggression and occupation of Palestine, I raised my voice and said there was no way I was going to play against this guy,” said Hakeem speaking to Arab News after making his decision at the end of the first round of the tournament.
The organizing committee accepted Hakeem’s decision. Hakeem had come to Paris to defend his title in this year’s World Cup. “I know I am losing my title but I am standing for our cause. The title is not important to me. I believe I have made the right decision,” said Hakeem.
Hakeem’s teammates and trainers supported his decision. Yasser M. Bahjatt, head of the Saudi games team which comprises 14 players, described the withdrawal as correct.
“We all support Hakeem’s decision, even though he will be losing his 2005 title. We will be missing Hakeem but I think we have other young talented gamers who could bring the title home,” he said.
Bahjatt noted that with gamers like Muhammad Ba Hazliq and Turki Al-Jadoa in the Saudi team, Saudi Arabia had a good chance of winning the competition.
The Electronic Sports World Cup is an international professional gaming championship. Each year winners of national qualifier events from across the globe earn the right to play for their countries in the ESWC finals in France.
