On Wednesday night, the curtain fell on the inaugural edition of the L’banka League, an amateur League of Legends tournament that lit up Casablanca with a dramatic final held inside the historic Sacré-Cœur Cathedral. The event, spearheaded by L’bankalik—a fully mobile offshoot of Attijariwafa bank—crowned Abdessamad, known in the gaming world as Krest, Morocco’s new amateur champion.
The championship match was streamed live across social media platforms, drawing in a massive online audience. Over 10,000 players had signed up for the chance to compete, battling through several weeks of online qualifiers. After navigating a gauntlet of regional elimination rounds, Krest emerged victorious and walked away with a prize of 150,000 dirhams. His win now positions him for entry into global competitions. Runner-up Yassine, who plays under the tag yassine123, also turned heads with an impressive showing throughout the tournament.
Backed by the Royal Moroccan Federation of Electronic Games and supported by Mastercard and FC Media, the event represents a bold step by Attijariwafa bank into the gaming sphere. According to bank leadership, this move is part of a broader vision to evolve beyond traditional banking and become more deeply embedded in digital and youth-driven culture.
“The bank of the future speaks the language of passion, talent, and community,” said Ghyzlaine Alami Marrouni, executive director for retail and professional markets. In her view, esports are a natural fit for engaging with Morocco’s hyper-connected youth—nearly half of the country’s 15 to 24-year-olds identify as gamers.
Wednesday’s event also served as the launchpad for a first-of-its-kind product in the MENA region: a League of Legends-themed debit card. The card, born from a collaboration between L’bankalik and Mastercard, features a distinctive design and offers exclusive gaming perks.
Additionally, the bank introduced a new app called L’bankalik Start, tailored for users aged 12 to 17. Designed to teach young people how to manage their finances in a fun, interactive way, the app includes built-in parental controls to help families stay involved.
Hicham El Khlifi, president of the Moroccan Esports Federation, described the initiative as a promising partnership between the private sector and the country’s growing gaming ecosystem. The success of this first edition signals a future filled with more events aiming to make gaming a space where Moroccan youth can connect, compete, and express themselves.
