More than 30 gaming industry executives traded conference halls for the golf course ahead of GamesBeat Summit 2026 during the first-ever GamesBeat x Aghanim Golf Tournament.
Hosted on Sunday, May 17 at The Lakes at El Segundo, the event brought together leaders from across gaming, esports, media, and technology for an afternoon of networking and casual competition before the start of GamesBeat Summit in Los Angeles. Attendees included executives and representatives from major companies including Blizzard, EA, Scopely, and others.
Players competed across the venue’s 10-hole course in a casual, team-focused format that kept the atmosphere social and collaborative throughout the day. Attendees also received GamesBeat and Aghanim branded hats during the event, adding to the community feel as groups moved across the course and continued conversations that would carry into the week at GamesBeat Summit.
Throughout the afternoon, attendees connected with peers from across publishing, live service gaming, business development, esports, creator platforms, and emerging technology. Conversations ranged from the current state of the games business and live service growth to new partnerships, platform strategy, and the future of interactive entertainment.
The tournament concluded with a win from a team featuring Joe Zanetti, Dima Mikhailov, Ben Lyon and Zach Nass, who finished on top after a competitive afternoon on the course. The winning team received prizes following the event as attendees wrapped up the inaugural tournament.
The GamesBeat x Aghanim Golf Tournament marked the first golf event jointly hosted by the two companies, with plans to continue building similar networking and community experiences around future events.
The inaugural GamesBeat x Aghanim Golf Tournament offered executives a unique opportunity to connect ahead of the fast-paced schedule of GamesBeat Summit 2026. By creating a more relaxed environment before two days of business conversations, the event helped foster meaningful networking and set the tone for the week ahead.
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