9.30am
Doors Open
10.00am
Opening Remarks & Welcome
10.20am
From Vision to Reality: Building the Future of Global Esports
Esports is entering a new era—one defined not just by growth, but by ambition at a national and global scale. Governments, institutions, and industry leaders are now investing heavily in competitive gaming as a driver of economic diversification, digital innovation, and youth engagement.
In this opening keynote, HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar Al Saud will share the vision behind Saudi Arabia’s strategic commitment to esports and gaming, and its role in shaping a truly global ecosystem. From infrastructure and talent development to international collaboration and long-term sustainability, this session will explore how large-scale investment and coordinated strategy are accelerating the evolution of esports worldwide.
Setting the tone for the summit, this keynote will offer a forward-looking perspective on the opportunities—and responsibilities—that come with building the future of esports at scale.
Speaker
Niccolo Maisto
CEO | ESL FACEIT GROUP
10.40am
Data, Publishers & the Rise of Global Competition
As esports matures, success is no longer defined by isolated leagues or single titles—it’s about building connected ecosystems that can scale globally. This session brings together three key drivers of that evolution.
Together, they’ll explore how publishers, tournament operators, and data infrastructure providers are aligning to create more structured, sustainable competitive environments. From publisher-led ecosystems and national representation formats, to the growing importance of data in decision-making, talent development, and commercialisation. This discussion will unpack what’s driving growth in today’s esports landscape.
The panel will also tackle key industry questions: What makes an ecosystem commercially viable? How do you balance grassroots accessibility with elite competition? And where are the biggest opportunities for stakeholders looking to enter or expand within esports?
Speaker
Shane Clarke
Managing Director | Runestone
Speaker
Brian Krämer
Director | EWC
Speaker
Ajay Jilka
EMEA | Moonton
11.40am
Morning Coffee & Networking Break
12.00pm
To be announced
Session details to be announced
12.25pm
Control, Collaboration, Competition: The TOs Shaping Global Esports
Tournament organisers sit at the centre of esports—balancing publisher control, commercial realities, and the demands of a global competitive ecosystem. As the industry matures, their role is becoming more complex, influential, and contested.
In this panel, leaders from three of the world’s leading tournament organisers explore how they navigate the tension between competition and collaboration. From working with publishers and bodies like ESIC to expanding into new markets and building sustainable event models, the discussion will examine how TOs are shaping the future of global esports.
Key themes include shifting power dynamics, the rise of regional ecosystems, and the challenges of scaling competition worldwide. The panel will also address a central question: can TOs collaborate to grow the industry while still competing at the highest level?
Designed for senior stakeholders, this session offers a candid look at the trade-offs, alliances, and strategic decisions defining modern esports competition.
Moderator
Zvonimir Burazin
Head of Ops | HLTV
Speaker
Andrew Haworth
SVP Esports | BLAST
1.00pm
Lunch
2.00pm
Emerging Markets, Opportunities & Esports Investment in 2026
As growth plateaus in some traditional strongholds, will the future of esports be largely defined by its success in emerging markets? What are the broader untapped areas that continue to offer opportunity and innovation?
This panel featuring high level esports and investment expertise from across the globe who've been there, done it (and still are), will dissect these topics live on stage.
Who's getting it right, what's exciting the panel, and what do they want to see more of?
Speaker
Akshat Rathee
Managing Director | NODWIN International
Speaker
David Harris
Managing Director | Guinevere Capital
2.25pm
Performance & Gaming Hardware Innovation
How does esports impact innovation when it comes to hardware? When miliseconds count and truly personalised set ups matter more than ever re the money on the line, a player's equipment, whether it's their monitor, mouse, headset, chair or something else, is vital.
This session gathers some of the finest minds in this area to discuss the most exciting innovations in this space, from those on the market to those in the works, and the involvement of professional players and coaches across the ecosystem.
3.00pm
Afternoon Networking Break
3.20pm
Ranking the Game: The Future of Competitive Integrity Systems
Ranking systems are central to competitive integrity in esports—but remain one of its most debated elements. Using CS2’s VRS system as a case study, this panel explores how rankings are built, where they fall short, and how they shape tournament access, team value, and the broader competitive landscape. Moderated by HLTV, the discussion will examine the balance between data, governance, and fairness in the future of esports.
Speaker
Alban Dechelotte
CEO | G2 Esports
Speaker
Anna Banschbach
Program Director | Valve & Supercell, BLAST
3.55pm
Fireside Chat
Session details to be announced.