The Evolution Championship Series, commonly known as Evo, is kicking off its 2023 event in Las Vegas on Friday.
The fighting video game tournament is the largest of its kind in the world and attracts global participation, including esports athletes from the Middle East.
More than 9,000 players are taking part in the competition, with the vast majority from the US and Canada. This year, 71 countries are part of the event, up from 60 nations represented in 2022.
Players will compete across eight fighting games, the most popular of which are Street Fighter 6 and Mortal Kombat 11.
The tournament attracts a large number of spectators, who show their support in person and online.
Abu Dhabi team Nasr Esports is represented at the tournament by three participants; Jordanian Amjad "Angrybird" Al-Shalabi, Algerian Adel "Big Bird" Anouche and Abdullatif Hisham from Saudi Arabia.
The National spoke to Al-Shalabi ahead of the start of the tournament.
“I’m so excited to compete in Evo because it’s the first year of Street Fighter 6 and it’s the most prestigious event of fighting games,” he says.
“I have followed Evo since I was a kid, since 2012, and it has always been a dream of mine to compete in it,” Al-Shalabi adds. He is competing in the tournament for the fourth time, and he has his eyes set on the big prize.
Al-Shalabi and his teammate Anouche competed in the Red Bull Kumite competition in July in South Africa, where the latter claimed first place in the Street Fighter 6 competition.
The popularity of esports has grown in the Middle East, with an increasing number of gamers taking the leap to become full-time competitors.
Al-Shalabi says: “The competitive fighting scene in UAE wasn't that big, but after Street Fighter 6 released, we saw a huge increase in the numbers.
“We started doing community gatherings and tournaments to increase those numbers,” he adds.
Evo will run until Sunday, with most of the champions being crowned on the final day.
Games will be streamed live on the tournament’s YouTube channel, evo2kvids, with the full schedule available on www.evo.gg
'Top Gun: Maverick'
Rating: 4/5
Directed by: Joseph Kosinski
Starring: Tom Cruise, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Miles Teller, Glen Powell, Ed Harris
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
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Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
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The Lowdown
Us
Director: Jordan Peele
Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke, Shahadi Wright Joseqph, Evan Alex and Elisabeth Moss
Rating: 4/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
