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RIYADH: Riyadh didn’t just host a conference this weekend — it made history. Day One of the New Global Sport Conference 2025 (NGSC) transformed the Four Seasons Hotel into a global hub for the future of gaming, esports, and sports. More than 1,500 leaders, innovators, and creators from around the world came together to discuss one question: What comes next for the world of play?

And ����ֱ�� came to play in a big way. The Kingdom unveiled an ambitious master plan to solidify its position as a global esports powerhouse, announcing that the Esport Nations Cup will launch in November 2026 in Riyadh. The tournament promises to build national pride and deliver the kind of iconic moments gamers will remember for generations.

Prince Faisal bin Bandar, president of the Saudi Esports Federation, captured the transformation brought about by introducing international esports events to the Kingdom perfectly. “Three million people visited Riyadh in the middle of summer, despite the heat, to attend events like the Esports World Cup and the New Global Sport Conference,” he said. “These were times when, in the past, everything would shut down — restaurants, stores, hotels — but now, thanks to gaming and esports, the city is operating at full capacity.”

The investment driving this transformation is just as bold. Speaking at the conference, Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih said: “The gaming and esports sector is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, and the Kingdom views it as the ‘new oil,’ as it relies on our most important strategic resource — human capital.”

Another official added: “We are making massive investments in the esports sector because it connects technology, education, tourism, and innovation.”

The community-driven side of this growth is just as significant. Faisal Bin Homran, chief product officer of the Esports World Cup Foundation, highlighted the importance of building relationships with the players, producers and fans who make the ecosystem thrive.

“We are community-powered, and that’s what keeps us close to the players, clubs, publishers, and fans — whether they’re here on the ground or across the globe. By listening to what they want, we’ve been able to grow faster and build a stronger esports fandom in ����ֱ��. This year alone, we saw over 200 clubs and 2,000 players from more than 100 nations participate, with over 10,000 players competing in qualifiers. It shows that, beyond prize money, the level of competition and passion for esports is higher than ever — and we’re proud to be part of that growth.”

That vision of progress and pride resonated throughout the conference. As Ralf Reichert, CEO of the EWCF, noted, “When nations compete, the rules remain the same, but the meaning rises. Victories happen; they are not just wins, they become national memories.”

Throughout the day, the sessions were as dynamic as the announcements. Ubisoft took the audience on a journey through its evolution from a small publisher to a global powerhouse, hinting at how legacy titles will continue to evolve for future generations. Industry experts explored how mobile platforms are now the backbone of global gaming growth, with one strategist emphasizing, “Mobile gaming isn’t the future — it’s the present. If you’re not building for the phone in someone’s pocket, you’re missing billions of players ready to connect, compete, and create.”

Others dove into the power of intellectual property, describing IP as “the currency of the next era of gaming,” fueling everything from collaborations to film and streaming adaptations.

The diversity of voices on stage reflected the global reach and potential of the industry.

Jumana Haj-Ahmad of UNICEF spoke about the social impact of gaming. “With around 3.3 billion gamers globally, gaming is more than entertainment; it’s a platform for learning and connection,” she said. “But that also means we must set global standards to ensure that every gamer’s experience is safe, inclusive, and impactful.”

Dan Clancy, CEO of Twitch, praised the region’s rising influence: “The Arabic community has showed active engagement on Twitch for years. It’s been incredible to finally support this community by localizing our platform. This isn’t just a market; it’s a vibrant, creative hub that’s influencing gaming culture globally.”

What truly stood out, though, was the energy pulsing through every corner of the venue. Between sessions, hallways became buzzing networking arenas where developers pitched ideas to investors, creators discussed collaborations, and thought leaders mapped out the next wave of innovation.

As the first day wrapped up, excitement filled the air with conversations echoing through the halls. Day two will highlight how AI and gaming are shaping the future of interactive communities and expanding the global game.

The next era of global gaming is being written in Riyadh. And for the gaming community, that means bigger stages, bolder opportunities, and stories that will define a generation.

NEW YORK/RIYADH/LONDON: The ATP and ����ֱ��’s Public Investment Fund on Friday launched an updated technology platform designed to give players unprecedented access to performance data and analytics.

ATP Tennis IQ Powered by PIF will be available to all singles players across the PIF ATP Rankings for the first time, extending access to as many as 2,000 players on both the ATP Tour and ATP Challenger Tour.

The system provides real-time scouting tools, video analysis and wearable insights aimed at helping players refine their preparation, strategy and match performance.

Ross Hutchins, chief sporting officer at the ATP, said the platform marked a major milestone for the sport.

“One of the things we’re most proud of … is putting high quality data insights into the hands of more players, enabling easy access to information that can genuinely impact their careers,” he said.

“We’ve also made big strides in the sophistication of the platform itself. Working with PIF has accelerated that progress — scaling faster, supporting more players and delivering one of the biggest technological step changes in the sport.”

Mohamed Al-Sayyad, head of corporate brand at PIF, said the project reflected the fund’s ambition to improve sport through innovation.

“PIF’s partnerships are designed to address critical needs and leave a legacy of transformative impact, built on a shared ambition to elevate every level of sport on a global scale,” he said.

“ATP Tennis IQ Powered by PIF embodies how innovation can empower athletes. PIF remains committed to driving partnerships in sport to catalyze innovation, expand opportunity and support the next generation of talent.”

The technology was first launched in 2023 in collaboration with Tennis Data Innovations and TennisViz.

The updated version broadens access to all ATP coach members as well as players and introduces an upgraded interface, enhanced scouting and video tools, and integration with wearables to capture physical performance data.

The ATP said these enhancements would place “richer data and analytics at players’ fingertips in real time” to help improve training techniques, refine strategy and make smarter in-match decisions.

The platform forms part of a wider strategic partnership between the ATP and PIF, which last year became the official naming partner of the ATP rankings.

PIF is also a partner of major ATP Tour events in Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Beijing, as well as the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals in Turin and the Next Gen ATP Finals Presented by PIF, hosted in Jeddah until 2027.