\n
\n\tRIYADH: Few achieve their dreams by the age of 16. Yet, fresh from high school, Ibrahim Albassam has already achieved a key life goal, leveling up to go from a gaming fan to an electronic sports professional, joining Twisted Minds as a pro player.<\/p>\n
\n\tWhile millions around the globe battle it out daily in \u201cEA Sports FC 25,\u201d only the best of the best get to cross the white line and go for glory as a professional player.<\/p>\n
\n\tAs in real football, goals win games in \u201cEA Sports FC 25,\u201d and Albassam knows how to hit the back of the net, but progressing to a pro was a steep learning curve as he balanced his studies with his newfound career.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cBalancing my life as a student and with competitive e-sports was a critical part of my early journey,\u201d he explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cI always made it a priority to stay focused on my studies and exams, while also dedicating time daily for practise and improvement. That discipline helped shape my mindset as a player, learning how to manage pressure, stay consistent, and remain committed to both education and gaming.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cI truly believe that when you\u2019re passionate about something, you\u2019ll always find the time to pursue it and succeed. During that time, I practiced consistently for one to two hours each day to stay sharp and improve my performance.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tAlbassam began his e-sports journey through the School eLeague. His talent quickly stood out leading him to represent the Eastern Province in the \u201cEA Sports FC 25\u201d tournament, where he delivered strong performances.<\/p>\n
\n\tAfter winning first place in the School eLeague Championship, he was signed by Twisted Minds, one of the Kingdom\u2019s leading e-sports organizations.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cThe School eLeague was my first step into the professional scene and served as the gateway for me to join one of the top teams in Saudi Arabia, Twisted Minds and represent them in the Saudi eLeague \u2018EA FC 25\u2019 tournament,\u201d explains Albassam.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cThe biggest difference I noticed was the level of intensity and seriousness. In the Saudi eLeague, you\u2019re facing top-tier players from every club, each with their own achievements and experience.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cIt\u2019s a much more competitive environment, which forces you to grow, learn, and elevate your game quickly. On top of that, representing a team like Twisted Minds adds even more motivation to perform, win, and continue developing as a professional.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tAlbassam\u2019s success is one of many examples of the Saudi Esports Federation\u2019s success in investing in grassroots development, creating pathways for talent to progress, compete at the highest level and represent Saudi Arabia in the global e-sports scene.<\/p>\n
\n\tThe Schools eLeague, organized by the Saudi Esports Federation in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, has become a hotbed for talent and a platform for aspiring players to learn, develop and showcase their abilities with opportunities to take the leap into careers in e-sports.<\/p>\n
\n\tAlbassam is grateful for the opportunities available to young players in the Kingdom and for the support of his family who were initially unsure about his ambitions but were quickly convinced that e-sports is a significant focus area for Saudi Arabia, with young players like him at the forefront of its progression.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cAt first, my family had some concerns about me pursuing a professional career in gaming, which is understandable, as they hadn\u2019t seen or experienced the opportunities in esports the way our generation has,\u201d Albassam explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cOver time, they began to recognize the potential of this industry and how a passion for gaming can evolve into a legitimate and promising career path, especially with the level of support e-sports is receiving here in the Kingdom.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cAs always, they stood by me. Like with any emerging field, initial doubt is natural, but once it becomes real, it becomes normal.\u201d
\n\t\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
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RIYADH: Few achieve their dreams by the age of 16. Yet, fresh from high school,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":59787,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[7220,853,7222,7219,7221,7223],"class_list":["post-59785","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sport","tag-eases","tag-final","tag-marchand","tag-mcintosh","tag-medley","tag-misses"],"yoast_head":"\n
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