QF To Host First Education City Open Esports Tournament

It’s a test of skill and nerve, it’s one of the fastest growing markets in the world, and it’s coming to Qatar Foundation’s Education City – as esports players from Qatar and the region get the chance to show off their talents and reflexes.

The first Education City Open esports tournament, which will be held on September 9 and 10, aims to tap into the growing popularity of sporting competition through video games, and build its profile in Qatar while supporting the rise of an esports community in the country and potentially opening up new career paths for young people.

Taking place at Multaqa (Education City Student Center), the free-to-enter tournament – which will see participants compete in two popular competitive games, FIFA 22 and Super Smash Brothers, to have a chance of winning QAR20,000 cash prizes – will be hosted on the new social gaming platform Showdown. The platform has been developed by Qatar-based venture Project Infinite which has been supported by funding through Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Innovation Coupon.

Showdown allows both professional and amateur esports athletes and gamers to create and build their profiles as they progress their careers, and provides a safe and responsible space for gaming, as well as to join tournaments. The Education City Open follows two online esports events organized by QF and Project Infinite in July and August.

Esports is already a multi-billion-dollar global industry and the MENA region is seen as one its key growth markets, with Alexandru Roscu, Manager of Engagement and Activation, QF, saying: “Our aim is for university students to be involved in esports and transform their skills and hobbies into possible future careers.

“We believe there are numerous professional paths for e-gamers in Qatar, including game designers, engineers, and influencers. At QF, we set standards for the excellence of each student in both physical and digital sports by encouraging them to participate so they can enhance their critical thinking, teamwork, strategy, and leadership skills.”

Founded in 2018 by a group of gamers and tech entrepreneurs, Project Infinite empowers esports in the region by delivering advanced tech solutions, advocating for responsible gaming, and promoting Arab culture, art, and music within the video game industry. The venture also aims to create financial opportunities for local communities as part of its ongoing engagement with local and regional strategic partners and entities.

“We realized that the esports market could not really be scaled up without solutions being found to some of the challenges it faced, and we set out to solve them,” said Deeb Mahmoud, the venture’s co-founder and Chief Technology Officer.

“The magnitude of the esports boom in recent years is huge, and in this field, there are many potential players and pioneers in the MENA region. If esports athletes in Qatar and the region can be connected with each other and with sponsors, and the local and regional market is promoted in a systemic way, we believe Qatar can really earn a place on the esports map

“Esports athletes from almost every region in the world are making their names, so it’s only natural that Qatar should have a presence on the esports scene.”

As Rabah Qunnaby, Project Infinite’s co-founder and CEO, explains: “Showdown is a flagship product which will be publicly launched at the Education City Open, giving players the opportunity to have custom-made profiles and show their skills, achievements, and rankings; as well as providing esports tournament organizers with the tools and technology to create, manage, and stream their tournaments while establishing and maintaining their brand’s exposure; and offering social features that allow people to follow other esports athletes and to be followed themselves.

“QF shares our goal of promoting and growing esports in Qatar, and together we feel we can create opportunities for esports athletes in the country and the region. We want to encourage and empower people to explore and play esports, and if they have the talent to make it a career, we want to help them.

“We believe the Arab world has so much to offer the gaming industry, and through the Education City Open, we hope to show people that esports talent exists in Qatar and the region.”

Registration for the Education City Open esports tournament is now open until September 8 at showdown.me