Oxford Wins The 2025 MBA Tournament, The Largest MBA Sports Event In Europe

Oxford Saïd Business School secured first place at the 2025 MBA Tournament, Europe’s largest MBA sports and cultural competition, hosted by HEC Paris from May 1-3, winning back the crown it claimed in 2023 but lost to London Business School last year. The event brought together more than 1,500 students from 16 international business schools for over 30 contests spanning athletics, e-sports, and creative performance.

Oxford outperformed rival programs in a wide range of events, finishing ahead of HEC Paris, which placed second, and London Business School, which came in third. Other schools in the top ten included IMD, Alliance Manchester, ESADE, IE, IESE, Imperial, and Cambridge Judge.

Oxford’s delegation posted strong results across disciplines. The school earned gold in women’s touch rugby, men’s and women’s 5k rowing, chess, the Spartan race, the blind sprint, and the fashion show. It took silver in tug of war, women’s football, cricket, and wine tasting, and won bronze in dodgeball and the dance competition.

‘SAÏD IS MORE THAN A BUSINESS SCHOOL’

“We are of course filled with such pride to see the trophy come back to Oxford,” Amy Major, associate director of the Saïd MBA program, tells Poets&Quants. “But it’s more than that — the multiple MBAT wins truly demonstrate what I always say is that Saïd is more than a business school. We have cohorts who are more than the sum of their parts, truly collaborative, with a community spirit that runs really deep.”

Associate Dean Patti Brown and Deputy Dean Richard Cuthbertson praised the Oxford team’s conduct: “Beyond bringing home the trophy, what stood out most was your exceptional sportsmanship — supporting one another, showing grace and kindness to other schools, and celebrating every success as a community.”

Several special awards were also presented. IMD was recognized for Best Cheering & Supporting. London Business School received Best Sportsmanship & Fair Play. Rotterdam School of Management was named Best Delegation.

2025 MBAT ‘DELIVERED ON THE EVENT’S TRUE SPIRIT’

The event is entirely student-run. A 29-member organizing team from HEC Paris managed the planning and logistics for the 34th edition of MBAT. The program included team sports, parasports like Goalball and the Blind Sprint, and non-athletic events such as trivia, band performances, e-sports, and fashion competitions. On-campus food trucks, evening parties, and shuttle service for participants helped shape the atmosphere of the tournament.

Brad Harris, associate dean of MBA/EMBA Programs at HEC Paris, credits the students behind the event: “The HEC student leaders once again created an MBAT experience that delivered on the event’s true spirit.”

IMD Dean Omar Toulan, whose school earned the cheering award, describes MBAT as a meaningful point in the academic year: “I always say there is the program before MBAT and the program after MBAT.”

The MBA Tournament will return in 2026.

DON’T MISS AT MBA OLYMPICS, IT’S OXFORD SAÏD AGAIN OVER HEC PARIS and LONDON BUSINESS SCHOOL TRIUMPHS IN THE MBA OLYMPICS