Samsung brings world's largest gaming festival to UAE

After setting the standards for UAE's gaming industry with the Samsung Cyber Challenge, Samsung, the global sponsor of the game, is now hosting the 'World Cyber Games 2003', in alliance with its local partner Emirates Internet and Multimedia's (EIM) www.mplayer-arabia.com, the region's premier online gaming site.

"We are proud that for the first time UAE-winners will get a unique opportunity to participate in the largest gaming festival of the world, which is also considered the Olympics of cyber games," said Mr. D. K. Byeon, President, Samsung Gulf Electronics (SGE).

"UAE is acknowledged globally for instituting world class events complemented with handsome rewards for winners. In keeping with this spirit of the country - to bring the best in global culture - our vision is to make the Samsung-sponsored 'World Cyber Games' into an annual event while encouraging UAE's participation in similar global cyber gaming tournaments" added Mr. Byeon.

The 20-day long tournament begins on the 28th of August, and aims to attract 1500 gamers to compete against each other in the popular
'Counter-Strike' game. As the global sponsor of the tournament, Samsung has announced that the winning team will get a unique opportunity to participate in the World Cyber Games 2003 in Korea, in addition to winning a prize-money of Dh100,000.

In support of the World Cyber Games 2003, Ms. Maroua Naim, General Manager, EIM said: "Following the success of EIM's online gaming challenges and the recently held Samsung Cyber Challenge, Mplayer Arabia has become a key force to reckon with in the online gaming industry. We are pleased to be partnering with Samsung in hosting the event, as it clearly highlights our strong gaming expertise and infrastructure, as well as helps the game-loving people share knowledge and build friendship."

"Our first cyber challenge, the Samsung Cyber Challenge, again in partnership with EIM, was an extremely successful initiative. By commencing the World Cyber Games 2003, Samsung will once again play an integral part in developing and promoting socio-cultural events that cross all barriers and bring people together to compete in an environment of harmony and sharing," said Mr. Taeho Roh, General Manager, Samsung Gulf Electronics (SGE)

The tournament, which is open to players above the age of 15, will be played in two stages. The first stage will take place online everyday at www.mplayer-arabia.com, for the next 3 weeks beginning the 28th of August, and concluding the second week of September. Online games will be played between two teams with five players on each side. The media partners for the cyber games are Kahleej Times and ARN media

In the second stage the qualifying 16 teams will be invited to play at a specially designed cyber stadium in Deira's City Centre Mall between the 17th and 20th of September 2003. The final round, which will take place in Korea from the 12th until the 18th of October 2003, will witness winners from 45-participating countries competing to win the coveted 'World Cyber Games 2003' championship.

"Samsung's first challenge, the Samsung Cyber Challenge has already paved the way for future competitions, as the growing number of cyber events now taking place in UAE have indicated it. This year we have further raised the benchmark by bringing the 'World Cyber Games 2003' for the first time to GCC," concluded Mr. K.S.Vasudevan, Senior Manager, Digital Information Technology Division.