RIYADH: Gen.G Esports continued their dominant run on the international stage by capturing the League of Legends title at the Esports World Cup 2025 over the weekend, defeating AG.AL 3-2 in a dramatic Grand Final to claim their second international trophy in as many weeks.

The Korean powerhouses now sit top of the Club Championship standings with 1,800 points, following a historic run that has seen them go unbeaten in 26 consecutive matches, one of the most commanding streaks in the history of competitive League of Legends.

The title win in Riyadh follows closely on the heels of their victory at the Mid-Season Invitational, making this the fastest back-to-back international title haul ever recorded in the game.

Their flawless campaign at the Esports World Cup culminated in a thrilling five-game final against AG.AL, who had earlier stunned both Hanwha Life Esports and reigning champions T1.

“It’s a very meaningful win for our team,” said Kim "Kiin" Ki-in, who was later named tournament MVP and awarded a $10,000 prize.

“In the past in international events we feel that we have underperformed, so to achieve back-to-back wins in the Mid-Season Invitational and now here at the Esports World Cup means that we are still a top contender level team. We are right at the top.

“And on a personal level, the wins let me know that I’m still the player I know I can be and that we can continue to lift many trophies together.”

Teammate Jeong "Chovy" Ji-hoon praised the atmosphere in the Riyadh Arena for playing a key role in their final push.

“The atmosphere in the arena was amazing, you could really feel it and I think that support was what drove us to go on and win in the end,” he said.

“The overall support of the fans throughout the tournament was incredible, they were electric and energetic, and they continue to drive us to lift more trophies again as soon as we can compete again,” he added.

The Gen.G lineup of Joo "Duro" Min-kyu, Jeong, Kim "Canyon" Geon-bu, Park "Ruler" Jae-hyuk, and Kim outclassed 11 other top-tier teams to secure the $600,000 winners’ prize and an additional 1,000 Club Championship points.

Arnold Hur, CEO of Gen.G Esports, hailed the team’s consistency and hunger for improvement.

“For us, the important thing is to keep on improving and delivering positive performances and results each year compared to the previous one, and that's what we're doing in this year's edition so far,” he said. “Everyone is working to help the club reach new heights and to keep rising.”

Reflecting on his MVP performance, Kiin added: “We were here last year, but we got eliminated early, so this time I wanted to lift the trophy, and I did. I'm really excited.”

JEDDAH: The 2025 World Pool Championship, the most lucrative tournament in nine-ball history, is set to break new ground in Jeddah on Monday, marking the return of the sport’s flagship event to Saudi Arabia for the second consecutive year.

Being held from July 21 to 26 at the Green Hall venue, the tournament features a record-breaking $1 million prize pool and brings together 128 elite players from more than 40 countries, including powerhouses such as the US, Taiwan, Germany, the Philippines, the UK, and host nation Saudi Arabia.

Organized in partnership with the Saudi Arabian Billiard & Snooker Federation (SBSF), the Saudi Ministry of Sport and the World Nineball Tour, the event highlights the Kingdom’s growing stature in the global sporting calendar.

A press conference on Sunday officially launched the tournament, with top players and organizers expressing excitement and anticipation ahead of the opening matches.

Emily Frazer, CEO of Matchroom, unveiled the tournament’s striking new trophy and hailed Saudi Arabia’s growing role in cue sports.

“It is really an honor to be here in Saudi Arabia for the second year in a row,” she said.

“We are all super excited to get this tournament rolling tomorrow with the participation of the world’s finest players,” she added.

Nayef Aljawini, President of the SBSF, spoke of the tournament’s wider significance for sports development in the Kingdom.

“Today, we are witnessing a comprehensive renaissance in billiards and snooker, as is happening in all other sports within the Kingdom,” he said.

“The great support from the Ministry of Sports reflects our deep belief in the capabilities of our youth, and these hosting events are only the beginning of a promising future for this game and other sports.

“We look forward to warmly welcoming the very best snooker and pool players in the world to the Kingdom and taking their sports into the heart of our communities, while also giving emerging young Saudi players the chance to compete at this level for the second time at home,” he added.

Among the leading names in attendance was Fedor Gorst, the reigning world champion and current world number one.

“I am back in Jeddah to defend my title and I'm very much looking forward to competing amidst the best in the world,” he said.

Filipino star Johann Chua, winner of the Hanoi Open, said he would approach the event with positivity and calm.

“I’m really excited about it and I don’t think about the pressure at all. I’m looking forward to it and will just try and enjoy as much of it as possible.”

American legend Shane Van Boening, one of the sport’s most successful players, was equally confident.

“Yes, I am ready and looking forward to compete with other players and hope to win it this year,” he said.

Representing the host nation, Saudi rising star Khalid Al-Ghamdi expressed pride in taking part.

“We are really so excited to be part of the tournament which gathers the best in the world and we all hope to raise our level and reach good positions. Simply, we are all looking forward to be there among the best,” he said.

The competition will begin with a double elimination format, where players must win two matches in race-to-nine racks to progress. From there, the final 64 enter a single elimination phase of race-to-11 racks, culminating in Saturday’s final, a race-to-15 showdown.

Fans around the world will be able to follow the action live. Sky Sports will provide daily coverage from 7pm local time, while DAZN (USA, Spain), Vietcontent (Vietnam) and TAP (Philippines) are among several international broadcasters carrying the event.