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 December 13, 2025, where gameplay was projected into the night sky by thousands of drones, company executives confirmed their ambition to secure a spot in the Olympic movement.

Speaking to Esports Insider, Maya Rogers, CEO of The Tetris Company, stated that becoming an Olympic esport 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, Rogers described Tetris to Esports Insider as the "perfect esport" due to its universal recognition and family-friendly nature.

An Unprecedented Tetris Spectacle in Dubai

The Dubai event redefined what a puzzle game tournament can look like, featuring the world's first official live playable Tetris game in the sky. More than 7 million games were played in qualifiers across 60 countries, with national champions advancing to the World Final held from December 11 to 13.

The grand finale took place at the iconic Dubai Frame, a 150-meter-high (492 feet) and 93-meter-wide architectural landmark in Zabeel Park. The event deployed 4,000 custom drones in total, with 2,800 drones (1,400 per player) creating the Tetriminos in real time during the Grand Final match. An additional 1,200 drones were used for the opening sequence, which included BASE jumps from atop the Dubai Frame by Red Bull athletes and live musical performances by producer El Waili and the UAE's Firdaus Orchestra.

In the championship match, Turkish player Fehmi Atalar defeated Peru's Leonardo Solórzano to become the first Red Bull Tetris World Champion. Each finalist had exactly five minutes to achieve the highest score, with every falling block, rotation, and line clear rendered live by the drone fleet against the illuminated Dubai Frame. Atalar secured the win with a commanding 168,566 points against Solórzano's 57,164.

A Critical Moment for Esports

The timing of this bid is critical for the esports industry. The path to the Olympics is currently being reshaped after the IOC cancelled the 2027 Olympic Esports Games in Riyadh and ended a 12-year partnership deal with Saudi Arabia in October 2025. The partnership, announced during the 2024 Paris Olympics, fell apart after both parties mutually agreed to pursue separate esports ambitions.

The IOC had previously faced backlash for excluding popular titles like League of Legends and Counter-Strike from its 2023 Olympic Esports Series due to violence concerns. With the IOC now looking for a "new approach" to esports and pursuing a "new partnership model," the success of the Dubai event highlights Tetris's viability as a non-violent, globally appealing title amid ongoing discussions for future inclusion.

Editor's Note: This article has been updated to include a link to the Esports Insider interview with Maya Rogers and Henk Rogers, which was the primary source for this story.