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Bahraini National Races To Victory At Mclaren Shadow Project’s First Ever Middle East Finals
Reading Time: 3 minutes
- 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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SoftGamings Wins “Best Platform Provider” Award at SiGMA Central Europe 2025 in Rome
Reading Time: < 1 minute
SoftGamings has been awarded the Best Platform Provider at the SiGMA Central Europe 2025 ceremony held in Rome. The award recognizes the company’s outstanding achievements in platform development, technical excellence, and continuous contribution to the growth of the global iGaming industry.
The recognition highlights SoftGamings’ commitment to delivering robust, scalable, and feature-rich platform solutions that empower operators to build successful online casino and sportsbook businesses. Through its unified API, the company offers seamless access to more than 300 licensed game providers, 150+ payment systems, and complete licensing and compliance support across multiple jurisdictions.
The SiGMA Awards are among the most respected distinctions in the gaming industry, celebrating innovation and quality among the leading companies worldwide.
Winning in the Platform Provider category underlines SoftGamings’ role as a trusted technology partner for operators looking to launch and scale their projects efficiently.
SoftGamings continues to set industry standards with its forward-looking approach, reliable infrastructure, and dedication to supporting clients through every stage of their iGaming journey.
The post SoftGamings Wins “Best Platform Provider” Award at SiGMA Central Europe 2025 in Rome appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Presenting Industry Trends and Celebrating 100 Brands: SOFTSWISS Shines at SiGMA Central Europe
Reading Time: 2 minutes
SOFTSWISS, a global tech leader in iGaming solutions, has wrapped up a remarkable showcase at SiGMA Central Europe 2025. From the launch of the 2026 iGaming Trends Report to the live-built Alfa Romeo 4C handover, the company once again demonstrated why it stands as the industry’s leading technology provider and creative pioneer.
One of the main highlights of the event was the official release of the 2026 iGaming Trends Report. The fourth edition offers a data-driven overview of the macro- and microtrends shaping the future of iGaming – from the industrialisation of AI to regulatory shifts, cybersecurity evolution, and the rise of brand trust.
To mark the launch, SOFTSWISS hosted the 2026 iGaming Trends Marathon, a four-hour live event featuring global thought leaders. In the opening panel discussion, Ivan Montik, Founder of SOFTSWISS, Heathcliff Farrugia, COO of SiGMA, and Pierre Lindh, CEO of NEXT.io, arranged the ‘Ultimate Forecast Duel,’ exploring which trends will define the industry’s next chapter.
Another key moment was the Alfa Romeo 4C gifting, organised to celebrate the launch of the 100th brand powered by SOFTSWISS software in 2025. The sports car, assembled live during the expo at the SOFTSWISS stand, became a symbol of the company’s engineering precision and team spirit.
During a special ceremony, Ivan Montik handed over the keys to one of SOFTSWISS’ valued partners, Lottu, represented by Hugo Baungartner, Chief Business Officer, marking another milestone in a long-standing partnership based on trust and shared success.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 36,700 casino games, Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.
The post Presenting Industry Trends and Celebrating 100 Brands: SOFTSWISS Shines at SiGMA Central Europe appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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AC Sparta Praha Becomes the Second Club Globally to Receive the Access Champions Certificate
Reading Time: 3 minutes
The certification recognises AC Sparta Praha and Betano’s joint efforts in turning the epet ARENA into a more accessible stadium and creating inclusive matchday experiences for all fans.
AC Sparta Praha has received the Access Champions certificate from AccessibAll, the international organisation that evaluates accessibility standards in football stadiums. Betano, AC Sparta Praha’s main sponsor, played a key role in this distinction by funding the initial accessibility report that guided the club’s improvements and helped shape its long-term inclusion strategy. This recognition makes AC Sparta Praha one of only two clubs in the world that have earned this award, following Atlético Madrid.
Before the match against Teplice, AC Sparta Praha and Betano representatives received the Access Champions certificate from the international organisation AccessibAll. The certificate recognises excellence in accessibility for fans with disabilities.
As part of the event, AC Sparta Praha and Betano presented a cheque for 500.000 CK to the non-profit organisation Znakovárna z. s., which provides Czech Sign Language interpreting for the club. Starting with the match against Teplice, AC Sparta Praha, Betano and Znakovárna will begin a long-term cooperation on creating and regularly publishing pre-match programme videos interpreted into Czech Sign Language for every home game of the first team.
“The AccessibAll award confirms that we are on the right path. We focus on concrete steps that bring immediate benefits to our fans. We thank Betano for their support and cooperation — without it, many of these measures would not have been implemented to the extent and quality they are today. Our vision is for every fan, regardless of their needs, to feel comfortable and safe at our stadium,” said AC Sparta Praha’s CSR Manager, Irena Smetanová.
“We are glad that, together with AC Sparta Praha, we are making the football experience accessible to all fans with disabilities. We rely on practical solutions that truly make a difference in the stadium — from navigation beacons to expanded barrier-free areas and enhanced matchday services. Our ambition is for every fan to fully enjoy the game,” added Adam Srb, Marketing Manager for Betano in the Czech Republic.
In recent seasons, AC Sparta Praha, together with Betano, has implemented a number of improvements to enhance accessibility at the epet ARENA for fans with disabilities. The stadium has been equipped with audio navigation beacons for visually impaired fans. Wheelchair platforms have been expanded, with increased capacity for visiting wheelchair-using fans. The club has also adapted its digital environment to be clear and user-friendly for fans with specific needs. Since autumn, regular stadium tours have been held — for blind and visually impaired fans in odd months, and for deaf fans in even months. For blind supporters, the club provides audio descriptive commentary through individual receivers in cooperation with Livesport. The pre-match programme on the big screens now includes subtitles, and a summary of the programme is interpreted into sign language.
The Access Champions programme comprehensively assesses clubs. It covers stadium infrastructure, fan and community engagement, digital accessibility, matchday services for home and away fans with disabilities, as well as leadership and awareness in the field of inclusion.
“Access Champions certification was created with the real needs of fans in mind. We evaluate how a club thinks about accessibility, how it implements it in practice, and how it maintains high standards throughout the season. AC Sparta Praha has demonstrated a systematic and consistent approach across all areas — from infrastructure to matchday services and community engagement. This award confirms that accessibility is part of the club’s culture,” said AccessibAll CEO Olivier Jarosz.
AC Sparta Praha and Betano will continue to develop their cooperation with community organisations and international partners, expand the use of sign-language interpreting and closed captioning, continuously improve the digital environment, and strengthen matchday services. The goal is to make accessibility a permanent standard of the club environment.
The post AC Sparta Praha Becomes the Second Club Globally to Receive the Access Champions Certificate appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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