logo
Mastercard Extends Partnership with Esports World Cup 2025

Mastercard Extends Partnership with Esports World Cup 2025

Al Bawabaa day ago
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) today announced the return of Mastercard as an official event supplier for the 2025 Esports World Cup, the world's largest esports event, set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 to August 24. The renewed partnership underscores Mastercard's continued commitment to elevating digital experiences, championing youth engagement, and supporting the Kingdom's rapidly growing gaming ecosystem.Through the collaboration with the Esports World Cup, Mastercard will introduce a range of immersive on-ground activations and seamless payment solutions designed to enhance the overall fan journey. This will include creating a bespoke version of the Mastercard Gamer Academy, where Mastercard, in collaboration with G2 Esports and Esports World Cup, designed a one-of-a-kind experience that will provide 10 successful applicants with the opportunity to be mentored by professionals on how they could pursue a career in esports. Further, fans can collect Priceless Points by interacting with the games and activities available at the Mastercard booth for the chance to win ultimate gaming gear that will be rewarded to the top scoring players. Further, there will be live appearances by G2 Esports players to be hosted as fireside chats to talk about areas like pro esports. The brand's presence will emphasize the intersection of technology, gaming, and culture, anchored by initiatives that highlight and support local Saudi talent.'Mastercard's return as a partner reflects the Esports World Cup's evolution from a tournament into a global cultural platform,' said Mohammed Al Nimer, Chief Commercial Officer, Esports World Cup Foundation. 'Together, we're creating impactful experiences that go beyond gameplay, uniting youth empowerment, digital inclusion, and immersive fan engagement. Mastercard's focus on Priceless experiences and innovation makes them an ideal partner to help us inspire the next generation of gamers and connect with fans in meaningful and memorable ways.'Saud Swar, Country Manager, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan and other Levant, Mastercard added, 'We are proud to deepen our partnership with the Esports World Cup Foundation as we continue to unlock the potential of gaming in the Kingdom. In line with Saudi Vision 2030, Mastercard is committed to connecting people to their passions, driving innovation, and inspiring the next generation. Our priceless experiences help empower youth, promote digital inclusion, and celebrate Saudi Arabia's vibrant esports culture.'This partnership builds on Mastercard's long-standing global support for the gaming and esports industry, including its strategic sponsorship of Riot Games' League of Legends and VALORANT. It reinforces Mastercard's leadership in digital payments and its role in shaping future-facing experiences through youth engagement and innovation.
The 2025 Esports World Cup will host 25 tournaments across 24 game titles, bringing together over 2,000 elite players and 200 Clubs from more than 100 countries. With a record-breaking prize pool of over $70 million, the event will offer fans a comprehensive entertainment experience, from high-stakes competition and live music to anime cafés, retro arcades, cosplay showcases, and more, cementing Riyadh's position as a global esports and entertainment hub.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

LG Unveils Latest Oled Evo and Qned Evo Tv in the Gulf, Redefining Home Entertainment Standards
LG Unveils Latest Oled Evo and Qned Evo Tv in the Gulf, Redefining Home Entertainment Standards

Al Bawaba

timean hour ago

  • Al Bawaba

LG Unveils Latest Oled Evo and Qned Evo Tv in the Gulf, Redefining Home Entertainment Standards

LG Electronics (LG) today announced the arrival of its 2025 OLED evo and QNED evo TV lineups in the Gulf region, promising a new era of immersive, AI-powered entertainment. These advanced evo models showcase LG's continued innovation in television technology, delivering enhanced picture quality, vibrant color, and stunning contrast that redefine the viewing the forefront of this launch are the LG OLED evo and QNED evo series, engineered for unparalleled visual and auditory immersion. The OLED evo models, including the G5 and M5, feature the α11 AI Processor 4K Gen2, analyzing and controlling 8.3 million pixels in real-time to improve details and add processor, combined with Brightness Booster Ultimate, makes the G5 and M5 up to three times brighter than standard OLEDs, delivering clear and vivid pictures, with the OLED evo lineup ensuring Perfect Black and Perfect Color, with black levels ≤0.24nit and color consistency levels >99% up to 500lux, verified by trusted certifications. The QNED evo TVs, on the other hand, boast LG's unique Nano Technology-based wide color gamut solution, achieving 100% Color Volume certification for a rich and vibrant color by the α8 AI Processor 4K Gen2, the QNED92 further enhances picture quality by upscaling HD/FHD content to detailed 4K and enhancing depth, which is complemented by Precision Dimming Pro, controls the mini LED backlight to maximize bright and dark areas, revealing the finest details even in the most challenging role of AI in these new evo models extends beyond picture and sound. The α11 AI Processor 4K Gen2 in OLED evo and the α8/α9 AI Processors in QNED evo elevate content interaction through LG AI. Features like AI Voice ID, AI Concierge, AI Search, AI Chatbot, and AI Picture & Sound Wizard, seamlessly integrated with the AI Magic Remote, offer a hyper-personalized AI-enabled TVs recognize users by voice, recommend tailored content, answer questions, and automatically adjust picture and sound settings to individual preferences, making every interaction effortless and perfectly aligned with the viewer's desires. The α11 AI Processor 4K Gen2 further upmixes simple mono/stereo sound to a virtual 11.1.2ch surround sound, ensuring an enriched audio landscape for all content. LG's 2025 OLED evo and QNED evo TVs offer advanced features and large-format displays designed to meet the preferences and viewing environments common across the Gulf region. With a focus on performance, design, and innovation, these models cater to a wide range of home entertainment needs.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi Markets Close in on Record Highs Despite Trade Jitters
Dubai and Abu Dhabi Markets Close in on Record Highs Despite Trade Jitters

Al Bawaba

time2 hours ago

  • Al Bawaba

Dubai and Abu Dhabi Markets Close in on Record Highs Despite Trade Jitters

Global markets have shown impressive resilience in 2025 despite escalating trade tensions and shifting tariff deadlines. The latest move by U.S. President Donald Trump to postpone the implementation of reciprocal tariffs to August 1 has extended the window for potential negotiations, helping calm short-term investor continued geopolitical uncertainty, the S&P 500 has surged over 25% since its April low, recently hitting a new all-time high for 2025. This rally, now considered one of the strongest in recent memory, is being partly attributed to a market phenomenon informally dubbed "TACO" – Trump Always Chickens Out – which reflects investor belief that the White House may ultimately soften its trade stance.'All-time highs tend to make investors nervous, but history shows they are often followed by continued strength,' said an analyst at eToro. 'A recent study from BNY revealed that since 1950, the S&P 500 has delivered solid 1, 3, and 5-year returns from a new all-time high. Investors who remain on the sidelines may miss out on significant long-term gains.'Still, caution is warranted. The upcoming tariff deadline could reignite market volatility, particularly if negotiations break down or new tariffs exacerbate inflationary pressures in the Markets Outperform on Strong FundamentalsCloser to home, UAE markets have continued their strong performance, largely unshaken by global trade headwinds. The Dubai Financial Market (DFM) recently hit a 17-year high following three consecutive weeks of gains, with Union Properties and Emirates NBD among the top performers. Meanwhile, the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) is nearing its own record factors such as robust local economic fundamentals and higher oil prices have contributed to the region's strength. As global investors seek stability, the UAE is increasingly seen as a relative safe haven.'The local market's momentum reflects confidence in the UAE's economic outlook,' the eToro analyst added. 'However, investors should remain vigilant. Any escalation in U.S. trade actions could have ripple effects, even in markets that have so far been insulated.' With the August 1 tariff deadline approaching, markets are expected to respond quickly to any major headlines related to trade negotiations. While the outlook remains broadly positive, global developments could still test the UAE's market resilience in the weeks ahead.

Dubai T100 Triathlon Weekend Set to Be ‘bigger and Better' in 2025
Dubai T100 Triathlon Weekend Set to Be ‘bigger and Better' in 2025

Al Bawaba

time3 hours ago

  • Al Bawaba

Dubai T100 Triathlon Weekend Set to Be ‘bigger and Better' in 2025

The second edition of the Dubai T100 Triathlon Weekend is set to return from November 13–16, 2025, promising to be 'bigger and better', according to the Dubai Sports Council (DSC). The event will once again be held in collaboration with the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO). General registration is open for amateur triathletes to take part in the 100km race (2km swim, 80km bike, 18km run) and the Sprint distance (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run) here: and places are selling fast. Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), a division of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) – a key partner - emphasised the strategic value of the event, which will once again be included in the annual 30 days of Dubai Fitness Challenge (DFC): 'Our continued commitment to developing sports tourism through world-class events like the Dubai T100 Triathlon aligns with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which seeks to position Dubai as a premier global destination for both business and the remarkable success of the 2024 debut, we are confident that the 2025 edition will attract global attention, contribute to the local economy, and highlight Dubai's diverse offerings to international audiences.'Eisa Sharif, Director of Sports Events at the Dubai Sports Council, highlighted the success of the inaugural edition held in 2024 and revealed ambitious plans to elevate the event in 2025:'We were delighted to host the T100 Triathlon World Tour in Dubai for the first time last November. The race was a valuable addition to our growing calendar of diverse sporting events, particularly as part of the successful Dubai Fitness has firmly established itself as a global hub for triathlons, offering events for men, women, professionals, and amateurs. With world-class infrastructure and local expertise, we are well-positioned to host major international competitions.'He added: 'The T100 brought together the world's top triathletes, including Olympic champions, and crowned the first-ever men's and women's T100 World Champions—Belgium's Marten Van Riel and America's Taylor Knibb—both delivering outstanding performances.''Equally significant was the enthusiastic participation of nearly 10,000 amateur athletes across the 100km and Sprint races, as well as in the untimed 5km Music Run, which welcomed participants of all ages and abilities. This community race aligned perfectly with the Dubai Fitness Challenge's goal of encouraging 30 minutes of activity for 30 days.'For 2025, we are working closely with the PTO to expand all three race categories. In addition, we will introduce a Schools Event and a Corporate Relay, further enhancing community engagement and reinforcing our vision of promoting healthy, active lifestyles to improve the quality of life in Dubai.'Sam Renouf, CEO of the Professional Triathletes Organisation, added: 'The 2024 Dubai T100 Triathlon was a huge success, quickly becoming a bucket-list race on the new T100 World Tour. We're thrilled to be building on that momentum by creating more opportunities for amateur athletes—and now, corporate teams—to participate in a festival-like celebration of swim, bike, and run around the iconic Meydan Racecourse.' The 2025 T100 Triathlon World Tour has already visited Singapore (April 5–6), San Franciso (May 31-June 1) and Vancouver (June 14-15). Swiss Olympic star Julie Derron leads the T100 Race To Qatar rankings for the women and Belgium's 2024 T100 World Champion Marten Van Riel is at the top of the rankings for the men. The next T100 race is in London on August 9-10. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store