Muscat, August 14
The Sultanate of Oman has hosted the first-of-its-kind tournament, 'Phygital Football', which combines digital gaming and physical competition. The tournament, which took place from August 12-14 at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC), featured eight teams from various governorates of the country. The tournament aims to provide an innovative sports experience that bridges the gap between the virtual and physical worlds, positioning Oman at the forefront of countries adopting this type of futuristic sport.
The tournament consisted of two stages: the first is virtual and the second is physical. In the digital match, two teams compete in the FC 24 game using the 'Volta' mode, where each team plays with two virtual characters in a match consisting of two halves, each lasting three minutes. In the physical match, the competition moves to the field in a 'futsal' format, where the two teams face-off with five players on each side in a match consisting of two halves, each lasting five minutes.
The winning team was determined based on the total number of goals scored in both stages, emphasising the importance of balancing digital and physical performance.
Eight teams competed in the tournament: Al Sharqi, Class on Grass, Al Ittihad, JR Style, Fearless, XG, Muttrah,and Wa7sh. The tournament was played in a knockout format, with the first day witnessing exciting matches. 'Class on Grass' managed to defeat 'Al Sharqi' with a score of 7-6, while 'JR Style' defeated 'Al Ittihad' with a score of 7-3, securing their place in the semifinals.
On the second day, 'Fearless' managed to defeat 'XG' with a score of 6-3, while 'Wahsh' beat 'Muttrah' with a score of 6-5, qualifying for the semifinals as well.
International Participation
The winning teams in the tournament pocketed valuable cash prizes, with the first-place winner receiving RO 500, the second-place winner receiving RO 300 and the third-place winner receiving RO 200. The tournament winner will represent the Sultanate of Oman in the 'Future Games' tournament to be held in Russia.
Hamad al Jahwari, Secretary of the Omani Electronic Games Committee, explained that the 'Phygital Football' tournament is the first-of-its-kind in Oman and represents a qualitative shift in the world of electronic and physical sports alike. This tournament blends virtual and physical reality, as a virtual match is organised followed by a real match on the field. The team's success depends on the harmony of their performance in both aspects, as the digital score complements the real-world performance.
Al Jahwari stressed that this tournament does not rely on individual efforts but is based on teamwork. On the virtual side, two teams compete, each consisting of two players, while the real match continues with the participation of five players on each team. He pointed out that this dual and quintuple nature of the matches requires high coordination and chemistry between the players, which enhances the balance between the mental and physical aspects. He added that the tournament includes eight teams in its first edition, with the participation of more than 75 players, and has received positive feedback from players who expressed their satisfaction with the experience after playing the matches.
Regarding the tournament prizes, Al Jahwari revealed that the winners of the first places will receive cash prizes totalling RO 1,000. And it was not limited to financial prizes only, but the winning team will have the opportunity to represent the Sultanate of Oman in international forums, as it will participate in the 'Future Games' tournament to be held in Russia. He explained that this global tournament combines physical and digital games, which makes it a true reflection of what is known as future games. Al Jahwari affirmed the importance of qualifying the winning team according to international standards to ensure a distinguished performance in external participations.
Al Jahwari pointed out that this tournament is an important step towards promoting electronic sports in Oman. He said: "The balance between the mental and health aspects of the game is a great advantage, which will attract support from families, schools and all institutions that support the practice of electronic sports."
He pointed out that all participants in the 'Phygital Football' tournament are Omani players, which enhances their chances of representing the Sultanate of Oman on the international stage. He also confirmed that refereeing in the tournament is done by Omani referees accredited by the Fifa, which ensures professional organisation of the matches and reflects confidence in national competencies in this field.
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