'As a female gamer, I was told, 'You should be in the kitchen,' but now I'm a professional player in the eSports World Cup.'
RIYADH: Team Falcons Vega MENA players say their participation in the “Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Women’s Invitational” at the eSports World Cup is an inspiration to young women in the region who aspire to become professional eSports players.
Saudi Arabian club Team Falcons Vega MENA had a tough start to the MWI on Thursday, losing to Group C-toppers Russian side Victory Song Gamers and Vietnam's Zino Lilies.
But the stars of the team, which has a $500,000 prize pool — the largest in women's esports history — say just competing in such a prestigious tournament on the biggest platform is a triumph and an inspiration to others.
The tournament will be held in front of a crowd of over 8,000 at the SEF Arena on Riyadh City Boulevard and watched by millions of fans worldwide.
Velvet, a Team Falcons Vega MENA player from Giza, Egypt, who has been playing professionally for eight months, said: “I thought it was pretty competitive. I could have done better, but I was just nervous. We have the experience to keep improving and learn how to do better in the future.
“The stage is huge. It's special to play on such a grand stage. It's an honor, actually. We'll take it to the grave. It's pretty good to get here, and we gave it our all in the first two games. We didn't win, but.”
When asked if she ever truly thought she would become a professional eSports player, or even play in an eSports World Cup, Velvet (real name Hadil Mahmoud) replied, “No, no, no, no.”
“I had a dream. I never thought that esports would become this viral and this huge and actually be a paid career. I never thought of it as a professional career.
“I always thought I’d have a regular 24/7 job. It’s really cool to be able to turn something fun into something you get paid to do.”
Velvet, 21, hopes gamers in Egypt, Saudi Arabia or elsewhere in the region will follow her example. “Yes, we can all do it,” she added.
“I was once a girl who no one took seriously, and everyone looked down on me and said, 'Oh, you're just a girl. You shouldn't be doing that. The kitchen is where you belong.'
“But that didn't stop me. I kept going and I wanted to inspire young girls and everyone around me and prove everyone wrong. So I'm sending the message that if I can do it, so can they. I'm playing on the biggest stage in the world, the eSports World Cup.
“That's how the world works. You can't get there easily. You're going to get caustic comments and stuff, but that doesn't have to stop you from doing what you want to do. Just be patient, do your best, and don't let any comments drag you down.”
Teammate fvvn, also Egyptian, echoed her sentiments. “When I was younger, I used to play games to pass the time and make new friends while doing something I really enjoyed,” said fvvn, whose real name is Alaa Ayman.
“But I never thought I would have the opportunity to play in such a world-class tournament with the people I love.
“I think women’s esports should be more accessible to girls and women in the Middle East, especially through prize pools so that we can become more independent and learn from experiences like this.”
She praised the Riyadh fans. “The support we received was incredible,” she said. “There were fans everywhere cheering us on in the hotel and at the stadium. Their support was a highlight for us during the tournament.”
MWI is a key addition to the Esports World Cup, which kicks off on July 3 at Boulevard Riyadh City and runs until August 25. The tournament reflects the growing presence of female gamers, who make up 48% of Saudi Arabia’s 23.5 million-strong gaming community.
With a prize pool of $60 million, the eSports World Cup is the largest in history and features a unique cross-game structure that pits the best clubs and players against each other across 22 global competitions in 21 major events.
More than 1,500 players representing over 60 countries will compete in the eSports World Cup this summer, with Week 4 of the competition this week featuring “PUBG Mobile” and “Overwatch 2.”
