The global Call of Duty arena is considered one of the toughest and most watched hubs in the gaming industry, with hundreds of millions of players and viewers worldwide. In the latest international tournament held last week, Ofir Ashkenazi, a 21-year-old from Netanya, recorded a significant professional achievement when he finished in second place in the grand final. Ashkenazi, who is marked as one of the prominent names in the local scene, passed a series of early stages against competitors from dozens of countries, while demonstrating high technical abilities and decision-making under pressure at the highest levels of competition.
Ashkenazi’s achievement stands out especially against the backdrop of rising tensions in the digital arena. In the past two years, Israeli gamers have reported a sharp increase in incidents of an antisemitic nature and hostile treatment from participants in international tournaments. During the current competition as well, Ashkenazi had to deal with slurs and attempts at delegitimization from competitors and viewers, but managed to maintain professional focus that led him all the way to the podium.
Ashkenazi competed under the sponsorship and professional support of the mobile brand Infinix, and played on the company’s GT 30 Pro device. Ofel Tzancha, the brand’s marketing manager in Israel, noted that in days when Israel is dealing with difficulties in the international arena, Ashkenazi’s achievement constitutes local pride and proves the ability of Israeli players to integrate into the highest professional standards in the world. Ashkenazi himself emphasized the importance of the connection of Israeli gamers to global arenas, despite the mental and social challenges involved in the current reality.