��������

MANILA: Philippine competitors are preparing for next month’s Esports World Cup in ��������, where they aim to defend a title in an all-female tournament of one of the most popular mobile multiplayer strategy games.

Set to take place in Riyadh from July 7 to Aug. 24, the upcoming Esports World Cup will be the globe’s largest esports festival, featuring $70 million in prize money, and 25 professional tournaments.

The event is a part of ��������’s broader Vision 2030 strategy to diversify the economy — also by investing heavily in sports and tourism.

Four Philippine teams will be competing in the championship’s MLBB category.

MLBB, or Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, is a free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena game by Chinese developer Moonton. It is one of the world’s most popular mobile esports games, especially in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

Keith Medrano, who leads Moonton’s public relations in the Philippines and the region, told Arab News: “Both men’s and women’s rep teams are representing the Philippines in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mid-Season Cup and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Women’s Invitational.”

He added: “We were given two slots per category, so two slots for the men’s and two slots for the women’s.

“We are actually the defending champions of the Women’s Invitational. So, it’s really important ... to defend our title as the strongest country in MLBB sports gaming for women.”

Duane “Kelra” Pillas, a player from the Onic Philippines team, told sports reporters on Tuesday that they would also try to reclaim the MSC title which Filipino players last held in 2022.

“In the upcoming EWC, we will make sure that one of us will win,” Pillas said.

“We are really preparing to get the MSC again since the Philippines has not been able to get it for several years.”

Filipino players have emerged as strong contenders in mobile esports in recent years — a discipline most popular in Southeast Asia and where they are seen to have their best title hopes at the upcoming Riyadh event.

“In the eSports World Cup, there are different esport titles. They’re all different — it’s like a multisport event,” said Marlon Marcelo, executive director of the Philippine Esports Organization.

“For now, we have a strong chance in Mobile Legends — both in the men’s and women’s category. That’s where our money’s at.”

He also observed an increasing popularity of esports among women, who just a few months after the Riyadh World Cup will be competing at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games.

“We have a strong chance in the women’s category,” he said. “It’s heating up.”

MOSCOW: Russian pensioner Roman Paltievich stared at the prices for apricots, tomatoes and watermelons stacked high on stalls at a Moscow market – foods that he now struggles to fit into his budget.

“The prices are crazy,” lamented the 84-year-old, who said he can no longer afford cherries – or even potatoes, a staple that is now three times more expensive than a year ago.

Russia’s three-year-long military offensive on Ukraine has caused inflation to surge at home, a thorn in the side for the Kremlin, which strives to shield Russians from the fallout of its campaign.

Western sanctions have disrupted supply chains and dozens of consumer brands have left the country, while inflation is now running above 10 percent.

Meanwhile, deep labor shortages caused by massive recruitment by the army and arms manufacturers, have seen both salaries and prices jump higher.

Russia’s Central Bank last week cut interest rates from a two-decade high, saying inflation – including food prices – was starting to come under control.

But for many hard-pressed Russians, it does not feel that way.

Paltievich’s wife, Tatyana, stood next to him clutching a small punnet of strawberries – a precious treat for her grandchildren that set her back 400 rubles ($5).

“We survived 1991, so now we’re not afraid of anything,” she said defiantly, in reference to the collapse of the Soviet Union and the economic chaos that followed.

Many of those navigating the aisles at Moscow’s Preobrazhensky market were also worried about high prices.

“I came here to buy chicken for my granddaughter. It’s more expensive in the supermarkets, so I don’t buy there anymore,” Nikolai Kucherov, a 62-year-old freelance artist said.

“I had to forget about traveling. For the past three or four years, I’ve only been thinking about filling up the fridge,” he said.

The Kremlin has hailed Russia’s economic performance since it ordered its troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

A huge surge in spending on the military has helped Moscow defy predictions that sanctions would collapse the Russian economy.

Engineer Konstantin Zelenkov, 38, is one of those who have benefited from rising wages amid the government spending boom.

“Some things are becoming more expensive but salaries are rising too, so it’s staying roughly the same,” he said.

Central bank chief Elvira Nabiullina has also pointed to rising wages and on Friday said inflation was starting to moderate, though it remains well above the institution’s four percent target.

“The high interest rate has led to a significant slowdown in inflation,” she told reporters.

Overall “the rate of increase in food prices has slowed,” she added.

But even Russian President Vladimir Putin was forced recently to address fears over a potato shortage that sent prices for the staple soaring.

For many across Russia, price rises feel never-ending.

“Starting even with bread, everything is getting more and more expensive,” Irina Yakovleva, 68, said.

“We just have to limit ourselves,” she added.