Riot Games and Intel continue to promote eSports in the MENA

Following the end of the Intel Arabian Cup, Riot Games and Intel reaffirmed their commitment to promote the eSports sector in the MENA region and to give regular opportunities for gamers to compete at the highest level (IAC).

The second edition of the IAC, which was organised by Riot Games and Intel and was based on the League of Legends game, came to an exciting conclusion, with Geekay Esports from Saudi Arabia being proclaimed champions after defeating Anubis Gaming.

During a virtual press conference attended by key officials from Intel and Riot Games, Karim Hachani, Head of Publishing MENA – Riot Games, emphasized the importance of collaboration in the gaming industry.

He said: “Our collaboration with Intel is extremely important because the gaming industry does not involve just the publishers as there are several pillars to the gaming industry. Among them are the players, the publishers, technology providers such as Intel, the broadcast teams and many other pillars that are key in the gaming industry.“

“We believe that by bringing all of these experts together to create an experience for the players is always the right approach. Intel and Riot Games share the same core positioning of putting the players experience and create a memorable environment for the players.”

From March through October, the IAC highlighted the top talent from across the MENA area across three seasons. The finest teams from the Country Qualifiers, Competitors League, and Champions League were given the opportunity to show off their talents, dominate the field, and create momentum in the lead up to an exciting climax at the end of last month.

Mark Subotnick, Intel’s Director of Desktop Gaming and Creator, and Ali Riza Kucuk, Intel’s Regional Consumer Director for the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa, joined the virtual press conference. They discussed how hosting the Intel Arabian Cup is part of their efforts to provide excellent gaming experiences in the region, as well as how the recently released Intel 12th Gen processor is ideal for gaming.

Hachani added: “The IAC provides an opportunity for amateur and professional gamers to test themselves in a competitive environment while allowing us to recognize and nurture local talent as well as further developing the gaming landscape in the region.”

The 12th Gen Intel Alder Lake processor is the most significant modification in architecture since the inception of Core. It has been redesigned to deliver performance that is in line with how real people use their computers nowadays.

During the three seasons of the IAC, over 1,000 teams registered and competed. The competitions were also aired live on League of Legends channels on Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook, allowing fans from all around the region to watch the action.

The competition has also allowed gamers to be acknowledged for their talent, with bouts being streamed online. The tournament attracted a total of 6.1 million views, with the grand finale attracting over one million.