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By Arab News

RIYADH: The women stars of Team Falcons Vega are hoping the passionate support from home fans can help propel them to “Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Women’s Invitational” glory at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh.

Team Falcons Vega are one of 12 teams battling it out at the MWI event for the largest prize pool in the history of women’s esports — with the winners claiming $180,000 of the $500,000 total.

Organized by Montoon and the Esports World Cup Foundation, the MWI group stages continue on Thursday, with the top two sides from each of the four groups advancing to the playoffs. The quarterfinals take place on Friday, with the semifinals and grand final on Saturday.

It was an excellent start for Team Falcons Vega in the group stages of the competition on Wednesday at Boulevard Riyadh City. They topped Group A — dubbed the “Group of Death” thanks to the quality of the teams drawn together — after victories over both CFU Serendipity and Cloud9.

Team Falcons Vega player Agatha, from Jakarta, Indonesia, said: “I’m very happy because we’re so excited to be a part of this tournament, the MWI. Being No. 1 and winning is a big goal for me — if we can achieve No. 1, it would be great.

“To represent Team Falcons is a really good opportunity for us. In Riyadh, I feel everyone loves Falcons. This is the Falcons’ homebase and this is the first experience for me of going out and everyone going ‘Go, Team Falcons!’ I think the supporters really help us mentally and boost our performance on stage.”

Agatha’s teammate Thall, also from the Indonesian capital, agrees: “I’m so excited because the people here are so nice. They all say: ‘Go Falcons, go Falcons!’

“It’s great to have that welcome and that support. The arena is very good. This is the best arena I have played at. It’s my first experience of a facility here (in Saudi Arabia) and it’s so good.”

Agatha, 22, whose real name is Angelia Agatha, said about the cash on offer: “I think this prize pool would change my life, especially for my family. I would love to give it to my mum and dad. Family comes first, right? I’ve been in esports since I was 19 so this tournament really matters to me.”

Thall, 20, whose real name is Talitha Ambar Maheswari, added: “I’m so happy because I’ve played in ‘Mobile Legends’ for three years and this is my first international tournament in Riyadh. I’m so excited.”

Asked if she had a message for young Saudi Arabian female gamers, Agatha said: “I think everyone must try and achieve their dreams — you must try. When you dream and you try, and when you train hard, you can achieve it.”

Group B of the MWI features DreamMax Girls, Net Angels and Omega Express. Group C consists of Falcon Vega MENA — with players from Egypt participating for the side — VSG (Victory Song Gamers) and Zino Lillies. Group D has Team Vitality, Gaimin Gladiators and Tidal Legends Gaming in action.

With 66 of the best “ML:BB” women players in the world, some 14 nationalities are represented in the tournament. This includes the Philippines, Indonesia, China, Egypt, Malaysia, Brazil, Cambodia, Myanmar, Russia, the US, Vietnam, Paraguay, South Korea and Thailand.

The MWI is a significant addition to the Esports World Cup, which kicked off at Boulevard Riyadh City on July 3 and runs until Aug. 25. The tournament reflects the growing presence of female gamers, who make up 48 percent of the sport in Saudi Arabia.

The Esports World Cup, which has a $60 million prize pool, the largest in history, features a unique cross-game structure pitting the top clubs and players against one another across 22 global competitions in 21 leading games.

More than 1,500 players, representing over 60 nationalities, are battling it out at the Esports World Cup this summer. Week four’s competitions include the “PUBG Mobile” and “Overwatch 2” contests.

WASHINGTON: Second-half goals by Argentine strikers Juan Brunetta and Maximiliano Meza gave Mexico’s Liga MX a 4-1 victory over Major League Soccer in Wednesday’s MLS All-Star Game.

Argentine striker German Berterame and Moroccan winger Oussama Idrissi also scored for the Mexican league’s elite squad in the triumph at Columbus, Ohio.

MLS had won both prior All-Star meetings with Mexican league rivals, playing to a 1-1 draw and winning 3-2 on penalty kicks in 2021 and taking a 2-1 triumph in 2022.

Berterame, a 25-year-old forward for Mexico’s CF Monterrey, opened the scoring in the 16th minute.

Cucho Hernandez, a Colombian winger for the Columbus Crew, equalized for MLS in the 17th minute.

Idrissi answered for Liga MX in the 41st minute to give his squad a 2-1 lead at halftime.

Reserve Brunetta, a striker for Tigres UANL, boosted Liga MX’s lead in the 68th minute and Meza, a winger for Monterrey who also came off the bench to start the second half, added another goal in the 69th for the final margin.

Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi did not play for MLS due to a right ankle injury suffered in Argentina’s victory over Colombia in the Copa America final.

Messi, who also missed two MLS games last week, is uncertain for Miami’s home game Saturday against Puebla as Inter begin defending the Leagues Cup, a second-year tournament involving MLS and Liga MX clubs that begins on Friday.