Dubai-based Geekay Group signs MENA’s League of Legends team

The Geekay Group has signed the MENA’s League of Legends team, which will now be known as Team Geekay Esports. Geekay Group will utilise its resources to talent spot, build, train, support, and fund teams.

Last year, Team Geekay Esports won six regional competitions, including the IAC 2021 Champions Season 1 and 2, the Arab Esports League, and the Intel Arabian Cup, earning the title of best League of Legends team in the region.

“The gaming industry is growing exponentially, both globally and across the Middle East, with international tournament viewership now rivalling some of the largest legendary sporting events like the Super Bowl. Gamers in this region are highly skilled, hard-working, and talented, and the potential for their international success is assured if they receive the right support and development,” said Kishan Palija, managing director at Geekay Group.

The global gaming industry was valued at $175.8bn in 2021, representing a growth of 30.1 per cent since 2018, according to Newzoo, and is predicted to continue at this level or greater for the medium term. Interest and investment in the industry by personalities such as Travis Scott, Drake, and Ariana Grande, add further awareness of its status. Although still in a stage of relatively early development in the GCC, the region’s gaming market is expected to hit $821mn this year, up from $693mn in 2017 (PwC).

Team Geekay Esports is made up of six players from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Egypt who have been playing together for a number of years.

● Wufo (Nawaf Abdulaziz Alkhowaiter / top lane): Saudi National, 20 years old, rank challenger
● Cipher (Walid Osman / mid lane): Lebanese living in KSA, 23 years old, voted Intel Arabian Cup’s Season 1 MVP
● Mishal (Meshal Albarrak / support): Saudi National, captain and decision maker of the team
● Ajwad (Ajwad Wazzan / jungle): Saudi National, 21 years old, rank challenger
● Mimic (Nawaf Al-Salem/ bottom lane): Saudi National, 23 years old, voted Intel Arabian Cup’s Season 1 MVP runner up
● Fr0m02her0 (Ramy Al Qasabi / jungle substitute): Egyptian national, known as one of the most surprising junglers in the MENA region

The Geekay Esports League of Legends team have already won the Razer Invitational 2021 ME and are now competing in Intel Arabia Cup which began on 25th May 2021 and will end on the 9th of October.

“Geekay’s Esports division was established just four months ago, and we have already hosted two scouting tournaments, signed and started training Esports teams for Valorant, Wild Rift, PUBG, and now League of Legends. We’re already seeing results with our Wild Rift team scoring in the top three in the Origin Series MEA worldwide qualifiers, and we’re looking forward to an extremely active year on all fronts.” – Meena George, head of Esports at Geekay Group.

Last month, Shams Media Services, the commercial arm of Sharjah Media City (Shams), announced teaming up with UAE-based esports organiser and production firm Calyx to organise tournaments to bring together local gaming communities.

In order to develop the local gaming community, Calyx has organised a multi-tournament cycle that will take place over the next six months.

Read: Sharjah Media City to partner with UAE-based Calyx to organise esports tournaments

Also read: Global Esports Federation welcomes UAE as 100th member