Industry leaders share key ingredients for success in gaming, esports at NGSC Riyadh

Leading figures from the esports and gaming industry gathered in Riyadh at the New Global Sports Conference on Sunday to share their secrets for success. (AN Photo/Abdulrahman bin Shulhub)
Leading figures from the esports and gaming industry gathered in Riyadh at the New Global Sports Conference on Sunday to share their secrets for success. (AN Photo/Abdulrahman bin Shulhub)
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Updated 25 August 2024
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Industry leaders share key ingredients for success in gaming, esports at NGSC Riyadh

Industry leaders share key ingredients for success in gaming, esports at NGSC Riyadh
  • Persistence, open mindset, creativity highlighted by leading entrepreneurs in panel discussion   

RIYADH: Leading figures from the esports and gaming industry gathered in Riyadh at the New Global Sports Conference on Sunday to share their secrets for success.

A successful entrepreneur will display “persistence on an unparalleled level,” said Jens Hilgers, general partner and co-founder of BITKRAFT Ventures. 

Hilgers was speaking during a panel discussion entitled “Rebooting Success.” He touched on the creative nature of the gaming industry and the challenges of finding inspiration in the field.

“Having a mindset open to be inspired by personal experiences or meeting influential individuals is important when it comes to creativity in esports and gaming,” Hilgers said. 

Tim Morten, co-founder and CEO of Frost Giant Studios, highlighted the importance of mentorship and working with seasoned experts in the field of esports and gaming.

Morten said that his motivation stems from a desire to surpass his previous work — he is driven by the challenge of outdoing the projects he has previously worked on, adding that having the freedom to implement his vision in the way he believes it should be done has been a key factor in his approach to this new venture.

Yannick Theler, CEO of Steer Studios, said that one of the key takeaways from his experience as an entrepreneur in the esports and gaming industry is the crucial role of assembling the right team for success.  

“My vision is about developing people, growing teams, and creating a fanbase to bring people to the big gaming events, as I did when I was an ice hockey player.”

Theler stressed that the collective effort of a well-organized team is essential for navigating the challenges and opportunities in a dynamic industry.


WNBA: Connecticut Sun eliminate Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever from playoffs

 WNBA: Connecticut Sun eliminate Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever from playoffs
Updated 1 min 3 sec ago
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WNBA: Connecticut Sun eliminate Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever from playoffs

 WNBA: Connecticut Sun eliminate Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever from playoffs
  • Clark played much better in Game 2 than she did in her postseason debut Sunday, but it wasn’t enough
  • The third-seeded Sun will now face either Minnesota or Phoenix in the semifinals which begin Sunday

UNCASVILLE, Connecticut: Alyssa Thomas and the Connecticut Sun were happy to finally close out an opening round series at home in two games.
Thomas had 19 points and 13 assists to help the Sun sweep Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever out of the playoffs with an 87-81 win Wednesday night.
Since the league changed its playoff format in 2022 the Sun have needed to win a decisive third game on the road in the first round to advance, which they did both years. This time were able to do it at home.
“Finally locked in and took advantage of homecourt advantage,” said Thomas, who had a triple-double in the Game 1 win. “We’re ready. Tested tonight and it wasn’t pretty, but that’s the nature of playoffs. We pulled out a gutsy win. We’re hungry and ready. ... We’re ready for what the playoff journey is going to unfold.”
The third-seeded Sun will now face either Minnesota or Phoenix in the semifinals which begin Sunday.
Clark played much better in Game 2 than she did in her postseason debut Sunday. The AP Rookie of the Year finished with 25 points and nine assists, but it wasn’t enough.
“Obviously it’s a tough one, especially as we climbed all the way back in and just to have our opportunities late,” Clark said.

DeWanna Bonner #24 of the Connecticut Sun falls after going up to block a shot against Temi Fagbenle of the Indiana Fever during Game Two of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs first round at Mohegan Sun Arena on September 25, 2024 in Uncasville, Connecticut. (Getty Images/AFP)

Aliyah Boston added 16 points and 19 rebounds. Her layup with 2:05 left gave Indiana a 77-75 advantage but DeWanna Bonner, who was playing in her WNBA record matching 82nd playoff game to match Lindsay Whalen, answered with a 3-pointer 14 seconds later.
Neither team scored on their next few possessions until Marina Mabrey hit a 3-pointer from the wing with 45.5 seconds left to give the Sun an 81-77 lead.
Kelsey Mitchell missed a 3 on the Fever’s next possession and the Sun sealed the game from the foul line.
Trailing by seven at the half, the Fever scored the first seven points of the third quarter to tie the game up. The teams traded baskets until Lexie Hull’s layup gave the Fever a 48-47 lead midway through the period.
It was short lived as Thomas took over, scoring 10 points during a 14-4 run to close the quarter.
Clark brought the Fever back with her 3-pointer giving the team a 71-70 lead with 3:59 left and the teams traded baskets until Bonner’s 3.
Indiana got off to a fast start and was up 14-6 before the Sun scored the final 11 points of the first quarter to go up by three. With 1:29 left in the quarter after a foul, Clark pointed out a fan sitting in the second row to an official, who called security over and had the individual escorted to the back. The fan returned later and there were no further incidents.
The run continued to start the second as Connecticut went up 26-16 on Carrington’s layup with 7:32 left in the half. The Sun led 41-34 at the half. Carrington was honored before the game as the league’s Most Improved Player.
On the last play of the half, Erica Wheeler went in for a layup trying to beat the buzzer and went flying into the courtside photographers. She was down for a few minutes before getting up and walking back to the locker room. She had her left thumb looked at and didn’t return in the second half.
Clark finished the half with 14 points, four rebounds and four assists.
The Sun were missing starting guard Tyasha Harris, who injured her ankle in Sunday’s win. Mabrey started in her place.


Man United stunned 1-1 by Dutch club Twente in revamped Europa League

Man United stunned 1-1 by Dutch club Twente in revamped Europa League
Updated 26 September 2024
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Man United stunned 1-1 by Dutch club Twente in revamped Europa League

Man United stunned 1-1 by Dutch club Twente in revamped Europa League
  • United has won just three of seven games in all competitions this season and Wednesday’s draw came after a 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday

MANCHESTER, England: Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag questioned his players’ killer instinct after they were held to a 1-1 draw by his old club FC Twente in the revamped Europa League on Wednesday.
Sam Lammers capitalized on a mistake by Christian Eriksen in the second half at Old Trafford and raced away to fire an equalizer for the Dutch underdog.
“You saw that was the game of their life. They fought for every yard and we didn’t,” Ten Hag said. “99 percent is not enough, You have to give 100 percent. You have kill the game. You have to finish it off.”
Eriksen had put United ahead with a stunning first-half strike but was caught in possession by Lammers, whose goal secured an unexpected point for the visitors.
Ten Hag had spoken before the game of his affection for the team he supported as a boy in the Netherlands and represented as a player. He said it was “not nice to have to hurt something you love.”
Instead it was United fans left in pain, despite Eriksen seemingly putting the home team on course for victory.
United has won just three of seven games in all competitions this season and Wednesday’s draw came after a 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday.
Eriksen swept United ahead in the 35th with a first-time shot into the top corner. Connecting with a loose ball just inside the box, the playmaker didn’t break stride as he whipped his effort past past Twente goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall with power and precision.
With one fist clenched, he ran to the corner to celebrate in front of the home fans.
But it was Twente’s supporters left cheering the loudest after Lammers’ goal in the 68th when beating Andre Onana at his near post.
“There’s a lot of football (still to play) when you (are) one up and the game takes more than 90 minutes,” Ten Hag said. “And you have to fight until the end and score the second goal.”
Like the Champions League, the second-tier Europa League has a new format and 36 teams instead of 32. It features a league system in which each team plays eight games against different opponents through January, replacing the old group stage.
Lazio cruises, Osimhen assists
In a clash between the Turkish and Greek champions, Galatasaray beat PAOK 3-1. Victor Osimhen, who moved from Napoli to Galatasaray earlier in September, made his presence felt. The Nigeria striker’s goalbound header was deflected by defender Abdul Rahman Baba into his own net early in the second half. Giannis Konstantelias equalized on a rebound before Osimhen set up Yunus Akgün to net the winner. Mauro Icardi added a stoppage-time goal.
Lazio cruised past Dynamo Kyiv 3-0. Boulaye Dia struck twice and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru added one. Both teams ended the game with 10 men.
Real Sociedad, struggling in La Liga, got a goal from Ander Barrenetxea at Nice but the home team salvaged a 1-1 draw thanks to Pablo Rosario’s goal late in the first half.
Another team struggling domestically, Bundesliga’s Hoffenheim took home a point from Denmark in a 1-1 draw with Danish Superliga’s leader Midtjylland. Darío Osorio put the hosts ahead late in the first half before substitute Max Moerstedt leveled it in the final minute.
In Brussels, Anderlecht struck twice in the span of five minutes in the second half on the way to a 2-1 victory over Ferencváros. Yari Verschaeren scored on the hour and Kasper Dolberg added the second from the spot.
Slavia Prague scored in each half for a 2-0 win at Bulgaria’s Ludogorets.
Early wins
Norwegian club Bodø/Glimt and Dutch side AZ Alkmaar became the first teams to claim victories earlier on Wednesday.
Jens Petter Hauge’s two goals guided 10-man Bodø/Glimt from a goal down to a 3-2 win over Porto while Troy Parrott netted the winner from the penalty spot for Alkmaar to beat Sweden’s Elfsborg 3-2.
Porto, a two-time champion in Europe’s second-tier league, got an early goal from Samu. Kasper Høgh’s equalized and Hauge netted twice for a 3-1 lead. Porto reduce the deficit to one in the final minute through substitute Deniz Gül.
Alkmaar answered Timothy Ouma’s opener with two goals from Ruben van Bommel on both sides of the interval. Simon Hedlund made it 2-2 before Parrott’s late penalty.
Ahead of a late game between Dynamo Kyiv and Lazio, a group of about 60 Lazio fans were stopped by German authorities in Hamburg after attempting to avoid a police escort and were found to be carrying knives, clubs and other weapons. Fans who were held overnight were banned from attending Wednesday’s game but there were no arrests.
Dynamo plays its home Europa League games in Hamburg because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.


Lewandowski helps Liga leaders Barca past Getafe

Lewandowski helps Liga leaders Barca past Getafe
Updated 26 September 2024
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Lewandowski helps Liga leaders Barca past Getafe

Lewandowski helps Liga leaders Barca past Getafe

BARCELONA: Robert Lewandowski continued his fine form and earned La Liga leaders Barcelona a 1-0 win over Getafe on Wednesday.

The Polish forward struck from close range in the first half to maintain Barca’s 100 percent record in the league so far this season with their seventh victory.

Barcelona dominated despite not being able to add to their lead and restored a four-point advantage on Real Madrid, who beat Alaves on Tuesday.

Coach Hansi Flick started Inaki Pena in goal for the stricken Marc-Andre ter Stegen, out for months with a severe knee injury, and brought Marc Casado and Alejandro Balde back into the side.

The reserve goalkeeper, who conceded 32 times in 17 matches across all competitions last season, heard his name chanted supportively by fans behind his goal and saved an early header from Carles Perez.

By contrast his opposite number David Soria’s weak touch on Jules Kounde’s cross led to Barcelona’s opener on 19 minutes, the ball falling perfectly for Lewandowski to finish from close range.

The 36-year-old striker has seven goals in La Liga this season and leads the scoring charts, seemingly rejuvenated under Flick after struggling at times last season.

Teen starlet Lamine Yamal might have doubled the lead moments later when Raphinha played him in, but he nudged inches past the post.

Soria made a good save from Raphinha, who collected the August player of the month award before kick-off, and soon sent another effort skidding wide.

Yamal almost bent home a delicious curling strike from distance before the hour, but Soria tipped it over the crossbar.

The Getafe goalkeeper also palmed a dangerous Raphinha free-kick around the post as Barcelona pushed for a second to put the match to bed.

Spain’s Euro 2024 hero Yamal clipped the top of the crossbar with a vicious effort from distance, as Barca started to grumble about Getafe’s persistently heavy challenges.

Raphinha missed a golden chance in the final stages, heading wide after a clever dart into the box but Barcelona were not punished for their profligacy.

Getafe, 19th, are still winless and wasted a fine chance of their own at the death when Borja Mayoral failed to get a shot away when well placed and free inside the box.

The leaders next travel to face Osasuna on Saturday, before second-place Real Madrid face rivals Atletico Madrid in a derby clash on Sunday.


France denies match-fixing allegations at Futsal World Cup

France denies match-fixing allegations at Futsal World Cup
Updated 25 September 2024
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France denies match-fixing allegations at Futsal World Cup

France denies match-fixing allegations at Futsal World Cup
  • Les Bleus and Iran played an indolent first half before Iran easily prevailed after France conceded a soft opening goal in the second half, triggering angry reactions from other teams.

PARIS: France brushed off allegations of match-fixing after their 4-1 defeat against Iran sent them into the softest part of the draw at the Futsal World Cup in Uzbekistan.
Les Bleus and Iran played an indolent first half before Iran easily prevailed after France conceded a soft opening goal in the second half, triggering angry reactions from other teams.
“Iran and France, coaches and players alike, have disgraced my sport. You are a disgrace to the world,” Thailand coach Miguel Rodrigo wrote on X.
Retired Brazil great Falcao was quoted by French media as saying: “It shows a lack of respect for the World Cup. The match was clearly fixed from the first minute.”
Both France and Iran were already qualified for the last 16 but the result meant that world number 10 France, second in Group F, will take on Thailand, ranked ninth before a potential quarter-final against 13th-ranked Paraguay.
Iran, the world number four, will be up against sixth-ranked Morocco ahead of a possible last-eight clash against world number one Brazil.
“It was Iran’s responsibility to be in charge of the game. The draw is more open for us but our main goal was not to get booked and to avoid injuries,” France coach Raphael Reynaud said.
The French football federation and world governing body FIFA were not immediately available for comment.


Judy Murray, Garbine Muguruza conduct tennis clinic for Saudi kids

Judy Murray, Garbine Muguruza conduct tennis clinic for Saudi kids
Updated 26 September 2024
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Judy Murray, Garbine Muguruza conduct tennis clinic for Saudi kids

Judy Murray, Garbine Muguruza conduct tennis clinic for Saudi kids
  • Event in Diriyah held ahead of WTA Finals in Riyadh in November
  • ‘It’s important that we share the sport as much as we can,’ Murray says

RIYADH: Scottish tennis coach Judy Murray and former world No. 1 Spanish-Venezuelan Garbine Muguruza conducted a tennis clinic for children at the Net Tennis Academy in Diriyah on Tuesday.
Ahead of the WTA Finals that will be held for the first time in Riyadh in November, the pair spoke to Arab News about the growth of the sport in the region.
“I think there is a new generation now ... We have great players from all nationalities and we feel like every tournament there’s different winners. So that means that it’s very competitive,” Muguruza, who will act as tournament director for the upcoming event, said.
Public events could help to raise the profile of the sport, she said.
“One very good example is what we are doing here today. We are bringing the community together, especially the kids. The kids are the ones that are going to follow our footsteps and be the next generation.”

Scottish tennis coach Judy Murray, the mother to former world No. 1 and three-time Grand Slam champion Sir Andy Murray and his brother Jamie, has said she sees a bright future for tennis in Saudi Arabia. (AN photo: Abdulrahman Shalhoub)

The Saudi Sports for All Federation and Saudi Tennis Federation are working together to stage the Tennis for All program at SFA Neighborhood Clubs in Riyadh, Jeddah and the Eastern Province. The initiative is one of several launched to encourage people across the Kingdom to become more physically active.
Murray, who is mother to former world No. 1 and three-time Grand Slam champion Sir Andy Murray and his brother Jamie, had a similar message.
“It’s important that we share the sport as much as we can with those in the local community,” she said.
“The bigger your workforce, the more you can share your sport with any kids, teens, adults who might be interested in getting involved and picking up a racket.”

Scottish tennis coach Judy Murray conducts a tennis clinic for children in Diriyah, as part of an initiative to grow the Saudi game. (AN photo: Abdulrahman Shalhoub)

But the most important thing was passion, she said.
“I look at my sons, who were professional players for many, many years. They’re 37 and 38 now and they still love the game. They still love competing. They’re real students of the game. They really research, study it, love it. And I think I would say exactly the same for myself. I love the game.”
Having worked directly with the SFA, Murray said she saw a bright future for tennis in Saudi Arabia.
“I think bringing the World Tour Finals here for a three-year period and also having brought the next gen finals here, and there are a number of other things in the pipeline that will bring some major events into Saudi, the closer you can get your people to the action, live action, the more they are probably inspired to try it ... the more they believe that they could actually do it as well,” she said.
“I think that the goal is by 2030, to have a million people playing tennis, which is always good to have a target and I actually think you’re going to smash that target.”