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Bahraini National Races To Victory At Mclaren Shadow Project’s First Ever Middle East Finals
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- Ebrahim Almubarak from Bahrain claims number one spot to represent the Middle East region in the 2019 McLaren Shadow Project Grand Finals
- 16 finalists from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Morocco battled for the coveted spot to compete at the world finals to get a seat in the McLaren esports team
- Hundreds of spectators of all nationalities gathered to watch the inaugural Middle East finals at The Avenues Mall Bahrain
Ebrahim Almubarak has been crowned the winner of the Middle East finals of the McLaren Shadow Project, securing the opportunity to represent the region in the 2019 world finals at the McLaren Technology Centre in the UK in January 2019.
Held at The Avenues Bahrain on Friday 23rd November, 16 talented esports hopefuls went up against one another in the live final in front of a large enthusiastic audience with Bahraini Ebrahim Almubarak coming out on top, after winning a tournament comprising of timed qualifiers, quarter finals, semi-finals and a grand final.
Ebrahim Almubarak goes through to the McLaren Shadow Project Grand Finals where he will compete for a seat in the team’s 2019 F1 esports team. The eventual victor will not only win a seat in the new esports team but also join the McLaren esports development programme where they will hone their skills and work with the McLaren Formula 1 team.
Mohammed Jamal, also from Bahrain, finished runner-up in the competition, with Haitham Abdelkaber from Egypt in third position after a hugely competitive final.
Ebrahim Almubarak, commented: “I am delighted to have been a finalist in this competition and to win it is a dream come true. It has been an exciting opportunity for all the esport players in the Middle East, and to come out as the winner amongst the best players in the region is a huge honour. The prize is spectacular and I will be very proud to represent the Middle East in the finals in the UK in a couple of months. I hope to pave the way on the global arenas for other Arab esport players with this opportunity provided by McLaren and Tamkeen.”
McLaren Shadow Project Middle East has been made possible as the result of a partnership between Bahrain-based Atyaf e-Racing and the McLaren Formula 1 team with support from Tamkeen – a national entity which aims to promote human development and entrepreneurship in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
“This has been a fantastic event and opening,” said Faisal Alireza, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Atyaf e-Racing. “The competition will become a regular fixture on our national calendar and will expand further regionally. We are planning several events in the region in 2019 in association with our partner Tamkeen. We have enjoyed extending our relationship with the McLaren team and look forward to a fruitful long term partnership.”
“We’ve been blown away by the passion and talent of the sim racers in the region. The competition today was great to watch, and we’re very much looking forward to welcoming Ebrahim to the McLaren Technology Centre in January to go head-to-head with our other Shadow Project finalists,” said Ben Payne, Director of esports at McLaren.
In addition to the live finals, the three-day Atyaf e-Racing event featured a number of fun activities for the public, including a retro-gaming display which allowed families and gaming enthusiasts to discover early games such as Super Mario Kart, and various old consoles and TV sets. Visitors also enjoyed a free-to-play area to practice their skills on Xbox One and Forza Motorsport 7. Olli Pahkala, one of the world’s leading esports players and a member of the McLaren Shadow F1 esports team, was at the event to play against the visitors and share his know-how and experience in the world of simulation racing.
About McLaren Shadow Project:
‘McLaren Shadow Project’ is a virtual racing programme that shadows McLaren’s real world. The champion of McLaren Shadow Project 2018 will win a place on the new McLaren esports team and go on to race online against the best teams in the world. The winner will also win access to the McLaren esports development programme,.
About TIG Holdings:
TIG Holding WLL is a Bahrain-based group investing in technology ventures. It is notably active in TV and Home Entertainment services, web application development and has recently entered the esports arena through a dedicated subsidiary Atyaf e-sports.
About MPA:
Founded in 1984 by Jonathan Gill and Jeremy Clarkson, Motoring Press Agency (MPA) is an award-winning agency providing motorsport media, PR, communications and management services. MPA Creative in its existing form was founded by Deborah Tee in 2008 before expanding to include MPA Commercial in 2015 as a ‘sister’ agency with the arrival of former Haymarket Motorsport Director Ian Burrows and former IMG and MSV business development manager Daniel Bailey.
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network

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Esports Charts becomes the official viewership analytics partner of the StarLadder StarSeries Season 19
Esports Charts, the leading esports viewership analytics provider, is pleased to announce a new partnership with StarLadder, a veteran tournament organizer.
The companies will partner for the new season of StarLadder StarSeries Season 19 — the legendary tournament series returns to the professional Counter-Strike scene after a six-year break.
As the official analytics partner of the StarLadder StarSeries Season 19, Esports Charts will provide comprehensive, real-time audience data and insights throughout the event for a deeper understanding of the tournament’s global reach.
“We’re proud to provide real-time viewership analytics for StarLadder StarSeries Season 19,” said Artyom Odintsov, co-founder and CEO of Esports Charts. “We welcome the return of StarLadder to the Tier‑1 Counter-Strike stage, adding healthy competition among tournament organizers. This season marks an exciting new chapter for a historic series, and our data will help capture audience engagement throughout the event, giving organizers, teams, and sponsors valuable insights into global viewership trends.”
StarLadder has been a driving force in global esports for almost 25 years, since hosting its first tournaments in 2001. The company has organized some of the industry’s most iconic events, including the StarLadder Berlin Major and The DOTA 2 Chongqing Major in 2019. Later this year, StarLadder will also host the Budapest Major 2025 — where it was earlier announced that Esports Charts will serve as the official viewership analytics partner.
The StarSeries tournament series, a key part of StarLadder’s brand, has helped launch the careers of numerous Counter-Strike stars. The last StarSeries event, StarSeries & i-League CS:GO Season 8, took place in October 2019 in Turkey. After a six-year hiatus, the series is finally set to make its return this fall with a brand-new season in Europe.
“StarLadder’s decision to partner with Esports Charts once again reflects our confidence in their leadership in esports viewership analytics. Their methodology sets the benchmark for accuracy and transparency — from tracking impressions with a true 30-second viewing window to providing insights that go far beyond raw numbers. Together, we are committed to giving brands and fans a deeper statistics of competitive Counter-Strike, powered by metrics that truly matter,” shared Viacheslav Shcherbakov, Head of Sales & Partnerships at StarLadder.
The StarLadder StarSeries Season 19 will run from September 18 to 21 in Budapest, Hungary, featuring a $500,000 prize pool. Eight teams will battle for the title: Natus Vincere, B8 Esports, Passion UA, 9INE, PARIVISION, OG, and Gentle Mates.
The post Esports Charts becomes the official viewership analytics partner of the StarLadder StarSeries Season 19 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Study confirms €191 million economic impact of ICE and iGB Affiliate 2025
The 2025 editions of ICE and iGB Affiliate generated €191 million in economic impact for Barcelona and Catalonia as well as supporting an estimated 3,100 part time jobs, according to a study conducted by Equimore.
The two world leading business to business events which attracted attendees from 186 countries generating 121,000 overnight stays benefitted a wide range of local businesses including hotels, restaurants, transport services, venues and event production with the average daily spend of non-local attendees calculated at €449.
An input-output model was employed to estimate the total direct, indirect, and induced economic impacts resulting from Barcelona hosting ICE and iGB Affiliate 2025.
The analysis also evaluated the employment effects capturing the jobs created and supported as a result of hosting the exhibitions. Direct Impacts consists of expenditures associated with organising, exhibiting, and attending within the Barcelona – Catalonia economy. The indirect or secondary impacts corresponds to the knock-on effect of the event on the Barcelona -Catalonia economy including activity generated by the suppliers and service providers that benefited from the direct impact of the event. Induced impacts which corresponds to the activity generated by the consumption in the Barcelona-Catalonia economy of the wages received by people who worked directly or indirectly on the 2025 events.
Clarion Gaming Managing Director Stuart Hunter said: “After many successful years in London, we made the decision to relocate to Barcelona with a clear ambition: to evolve, to grow, and to offer our global community an even greater platform for connection and innovation.
“The industry’s experience in Barcelona was shaped by several key factors that made ICE and iGB Affiliate 2025 truly exceptional. World-class exhibitors showcased an outstanding cross-section of global gaming innovation. The Clarion Gaming team, collaborating seamlessly with partners at Fira GranVia, demonstrated why they’re regarded as the best in the business.
“The results speak for themselves — a record attendance, exceptional exhibitor engagement, and an impressive €191 million in economic impact for the Barcelona and Catalonia economy boosted by a large international business audience. We can’t wait to see everyone again in January 2026.”
The post Study confirms €191 million economic impact of ICE and iGB Affiliate 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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GGPoker to Broadcast WSOP Online 2025 Final Tables Live, Featuring GGPoker.tv Broadcast Debut of Poker Legend Phil Hellmuth
Join Jeff Gross and his legendary co-hosts on September 23 and September 30
GGPoker, the World’s Biggest Poker Room, today announced it will live stream the final table action of two of the most prestigious events from the ongoing WSOP Online 2025 tournament series. The broadcasts will be available on GGPoker.tv, the brand’s official YouTube channel, and will feature the debut of poker legend Phil Hellmuth as a live GGPoker.tv broadcast host.
The first broadcast, on September 23, will showcase the high-stakes drama from the final table of the $5,000 WSOP Online Main Event, arguably online poker’s most important annual tournament. This landmark event will be co-hosted by frequent GGPoker anchor Jeff Gross and the 17-time WSOP bracelet winner, Phil Hellmuth. Known for his “poker brat” persona and unparalleled tournament record, Hellmuth’s inclusion will provide viewers with an unprecedented look into the mind of one of poker’s greatest champions.
The action continues on September 30, with the final table of the $10,300 GGMillion$ High Rollers event. Joining Jeff Gross for this broadcast will be GGPoker Global Ambassador and fellow poker icon, Daniel Negreanu. Negreanu, with his engaging style and deep understanding of the game, will provide expert commentary and analysis, making this broadcast another must-watch for poker fans everywhere.
“We are incredibly excited to bring the WSOP Online 2025 action directly to our fans with these two live broadcasts,” said Paul Burke, Head of Public Relations at GGPoker. “Having Phil Hellmuth and Daniel Negreanu on air alongside Jeff Gross to break down the action will be a true treat. This will be more than just watching a final table; it’ll be a masterclass in poker strategy from two of the best to ever play the game.”
The post GGPoker to Broadcast WSOP Online 2025 Final Tables Live, Featuring GGPoker.tv Broadcast Debut of Poker Legend Phil Hellmuth appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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