Tetris Targets Olympic Esports Spot After Red Bull Final in Dubai

Fresh off the massive success of the Red Bull Tetris World Final in Dubai, The Tetris Company has expressed its interest in bidding for the legendary puzzle game to be an Olympic esport. Following a spectacular tournament on Dec 13, 2025, where gameplay was projected into the night sky, company executives confirmed their ambition to secure a spot in the Olympic movement. Maya Rogers, CEO of The Tetris Company, stated that becoming an Olympic esports is definitely one of their primary ambitions over the next one to three years.

The strategic push positions Tetris as a leading contender for future inclusion, especially as the game aligns perfectly with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) values. Unlike popular shooter games that often struggle with the IOC’s strict "non-violence" criteria, Maya Rogers describes Tetris as the "perfect esport" due to its universal recognition and family-friendly nature. Founder Henk Rogers echoed this sentiment, noting that much like traditional sports, Tetris is a game that anyone in the family can watch and enjoy together, much like traditional Olympic sports. 

The Dubai event redefined what a puzzle game tournament can look like. The event featured a massive 4,000-drone light display to project the game against the Dubai Frame, creating the first-ever live playable Tetris game in the sky. In the grand finale, Turkish player Fehmi Atalar defeated Peru’s Leonardo Solórzano to become the first Red Bull Tetris World Champion. 

Atalar secured the win with a flawless 168,566 points against Solórzano’s 57,164. While Atalar supports the Olympic dream, he noted that the circumstances required to make it a reality are complicated, though he hopes the organizers manage to pull it off.

Building an Olympic-Ready Ecosystem

However, transitioning to the Olympic stage comes with challenges regarding spectator engagement. Henk Rogers admitted that until now, the focus has been on players rather than the audience. He explained that top-tier professionals play at such high speeds that casual viewers often cannot follow the strategy. 

To fix this, the company plans to reshape the competitive ecosystem to mirror an Olympic model. This includes implementing instant replays, multiple camera angles, and potentially using AI to identify and explain the best moves to the crowd, ensuring the action is intelligible to a mass audience.

The timing of this bid is critical for the esports industry. The path to the Olympics is currently being reshaped after the IOC recently cancelled the 2027 Olympic Esports Games in Riyadh and ended a 12-year partnership deal early. The IOC had previously faced backlash for excluding popular titles like League of Legends and Counter-Strike from its 2023 Esports Series due to violence. 

With the IOC now looking for a "new approach" to esports, the success of the Dubai event highlights Tetris's viability as a non-violent, globally appealing title amid ongoing discussions for future inclusion.