Vlad Marinescu, President of the International Esports Federation since 2019, is expected to face the UAE Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al-Nahyan at this year's election in Bali on December 6 ©IESF

International Esports Federation (IESF) President Vlad Marinescu is set to face opposition from the United Arab Emirates' Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al-Nahyan at next month's election.

Marinescu stepped into the role of IESF President in May 2020 to replace South Africa's Colin Webster after he stepped down, and was re-elected in December 2020.

Sheikh Sultan, President of the Asian Esports Federation, was elected as an IESF Board member in 2019.

He announced plans to stand against Marinescu in the last election, held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but withdrew before the vote.

Marinescu received 91 per cent of the votes at the virtual IESF Ordinary General Meeting, with only four members voting against him.

Sheikh Sultan became IESF vice-president after Marinescu became President two years ago.

He also serves as an adviser to the President of the United Arab Emirates and is President of The Emirates Esports Federation.

Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al-Nahyan had stood against Vlad Marinescu at the last election for IESF President two years ago but withdrew before the vote ©IESF
Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al-Nahyan had stood against Vlad Marinescu at the last election for IESF President two years ago but withdrew before the vote ©IESF

The latest election is due to take place at the IESF's 15th General Assembly during the World Esports Championships Finals in Bali in Indonesia on December 6.

A total of 110 National Federations are due to be present to vote in the elections, which will also choose a new IESF Board and discuss a series of motions.

Founded in 2008, the IESF is the oldest governing body claiming to have responsibility for esports.

The IESF claims to be the only "International Federation for esports confirming principles of good governance and transparency".

Under Marinescu, the IESF Executive Board has grown from six members to 18 representing 18 different countries.

The IESF’s 15th General Assembly will take place during the World Esports Championships in Bali ©IESF
The IESF’s 15th General Assembly will take place during the World Esports Championships in Bali ©IESF

Marinescu is President of the United States eSports Federation and also works full-time as director general of the International Judo Federation.

In addition to his work in judo, Marinescu was director general of SportAccord and President of New Jersey-based RSportz, a cloud-based membership registration platform, for a period.

The IESF recently concluded the regional qualifiers for World Esports Championships Finals, due to open on December 1 and conclude on December 12, with the remaining nations set to compete in a play-in round for a last chance to qualify.

This year’s event is expected to be the most geographically diverse edition yet, with 600 athletes representing 106 nations competing for a record prize pool of $500,000 (£420,000/€480,000).