A robot sports league launched in Riyadh and 2,056 robots competed in Beijing — a new variable in a US$67.34bn rights market

Tiangong Ultra ran the 100m final in 8.64 seconds at the second World Humanoid Robot Games. Most finishers hit the barrier at the end of the track. Graphic: K-EnterTech Hub

The capital that has been buying sports rights has moved into building leagues out of robots. CyberHero launched in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 9. Created by the esports company Hero Esports, the league puts machines and software built by people onto the court. Beyond securing games to carry, it is a business that supplies the games.