Following the successful run of the “Ramadan Derby 2020” gaming tournament for FIFA gamers across the UAE, the two partners are now extending the partnership to more games.
Twofour54 and the UAE Pro League will co-host a number of FIFA e-sports tournaments throughout 2020 following the success of the “Ramadan Derby 2020” gaming tournament for FIFA gamers across the UAE. The inaugural tournament was hosted on the twofour54 and UAE Pro League Twitch channels from May 18 to 20. Spectators were also encouraged to contribute towards the ‘Together We Are Good’ programme, Ma’an’s social fund that channels community contributions to tackle pressing social challenges.
Thirty UAE-based gamers took part in the Ramadan competition. Emirati Abdulla Altamimi, a 27-year old goalkeeper for Fujairah Football Club, won a series of matches and a cash prize of $1,225. Ten random viewers were selected from the stream to receive customised merchandise. During the final round of the tournament, 10 gamers competed against some of the top Arabian Gulf League players and other special guests including football influencers Rayan Yaslem, Khamees Ismaeel and Sl6.
Commenting on the partnership, Michael Garin, CEO of twofour54 Abu Dhabi, said: “Gaming and e-sports are among the fastest-growing industries in the world, with plenty of interesting career opportunities for budding players, developers, and designers. In these challenging times, gaming has proved to be both a welcome escape and a way to connect with others. We’re delighted to be forging a long-term partnership with UAE Pro League to help grow this community even more. By bringing together players, spectators, and partners across the UAE, we want to continue to foster an environment that attracts gaming talent to Abu Dhabi’s thriving content creation scene.”
Waleed Al Hosani, CEO of the UAE Pro League, remarked: “The UAE Pro League always strives to be at the forefront of developments in the football industry, with our 2017-2020 strategic plan placing special emphasis on adoption of technology. In recent years, E-sports have risen exponentially in popularity and are set to be one of the emerging trends of the 2020s.
“We enjoyed this latest collaboration with twofour54 to bring our fans a quality interactive experience. The tournament marked yet another milestone in our efforts to entertain fans and encourage them to remain engaged with football while they stay at home in compliance with the authorities’ directives aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
More tournaments are set to be scheduled soon.
