• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 21:40
CEST 03:40
KST 10:40
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
Team TLMC #5 - Finalists & Open Tournaments0[ASL20] Ro16 Preview Pt2: Turbulence5Classic Games #3: Rogue vs Serral at BlizzCon9[ASL20] Ro16 Preview Pt1: Ascent10Maestros of the Game: Week 1/Play-in Preview12
Community News
Weekly Cups (Sept 8-14): herO & MaxPax split cups3WardiTV TL Team Map Contest #5 Tournaments1SC4ALL $6,000 Open LAN in Philadelphia7Weekly Cups (Sept 1-7): MaxPax rebounds & Clem saga continues29LiuLi Cup - September 2025 Tournaments3
StarCraft 2
General
Team Liquid Map Contest #21 - Presented by Monster Energy #1: Maru - Greatest Players of All Time Weekly Cups (Sept 8-14): herO & MaxPax split cups SpeCial on The Tasteless Podcast Team TLMC #5 - Finalists & Open Tournaments
Tourneys
WardiTV TL Team Map Contest #5 Tournaments Maestros of The Game—$20k event w/ live finals in Paris RSL: Revival, a new crowdfunded tournament series Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament SC4ALL $6,000 Open LAN in Philadelphia
Strategy
Custom Maps
External Content
Mutation # 491 Night Drive Mutation # 490 Masters of Midnight Mutation # 489 Bannable Offense Mutation # 488 What Goes Around
Brood War
General
[ASL20] Ro16 Preview Pt2: Turbulence BW General Discussion BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ ASL20 General Discussion Playing StarCraft as 2 people on the same network
Tourneys
[ASL20] Ro16 Group C [IPSL] ISPL Season 1 Winter Qualis and Info! Is there English video for group selection for ASL [ASL20] Ro16 Group B
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Muta micro map competition Fighting Spirit mining rates [G] Mineral Boosting
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Path of Exile General RTS Discussion Thread Nintendo Switch Thread Borderlands 3
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion LiquidDota to reintegrate into TL.net
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine Canadian Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread The Big Programming Thread
Fan Clubs
The Happy Fan Club!
Media & Entertainment
Movie Discussion! [Manga] One Piece Anime Discussion Thread
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion MLB/Baseball 2023
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Linksys AE2500 USB WIFI keeps disconnecting Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread High temperatures on bridge(s)
TL Community
BarCraft in Tokyo Japan for ASL Season5 Final The Automated Ban List
Blogs
The Personality of a Spender…
TrAiDoS
A very expensive lesson on ma…
Garnet
hello world
radishsoup
Lemme tell you a thing o…
JoinTheRain
RTS Design in Hypercoven
a11
Evil Gacha Games and the…
ffswowsucks
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 1424 users

ESL sold for $1B to Saudi-backed Savvy Gaming Group

Forum Index > SC2 General
83 CommentsPost a Reply
1 2 3 4 5 Next All
dbRic1203
Profile Joined July 2019
Germany2655 Posts
January 24 2022 20:46 GMT
#1
ESL sold for 1 Billion USD to Savvy Gaming Group from Saudi Arabia:

Facebook Twitter Reddit
MaxPax
Waxangel
Profile Blog Joined September 2002
United States33432 Posts
January 24 2022 20:46 GMT
#2
IEM Katowice? It's IEM Jeddah now
AdministratorHey HP can you redo everything youve ever done because i have a small complaint?
Jakji
Profile Joined January 2022
1 Post
January 24 2022 20:52 GMT
#3
what?!
Bagration
Profile Blog Joined October 2011
United States18282 Posts
Last Edited: 2022-01-24 20:55:05
January 24 2022 20:53 GMT
#4
Saudi Arabia has been pretty serious about trying to diversify its investments outside of petro, while simultaneously trying rebrand and boost its soft power

We'll see how this goes - I have my opinions about KSA, but have to admit I don't mind more investment pouring into eSports. Just hope they don't ruin this org
Team Slayers, Axiom-Acer and Vile forever
luxon
Profile Joined August 2012
United States112 Posts
January 24 2022 21:01 GMT
#5
demuslim sweating right now about his handle choice lol
Zetter
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
Germany629 Posts
January 24 2022 21:12 GMT
#6
I really detest the increasing influence dictatorships have on the entertainment sector (and not only that sector). Why can't we have nice things? :/
Mendici sumus. Hoc est verum. | I don't mind straight people, as long as they act gay in public. | Es ist keine Tugend edel geboren werden, sondern sich edel machen | οἶδα οὐκ εἰδώς
Slydie
Profile Joined August 2013
1923 Posts
Last Edited: 2022-01-24 21:16:23
January 24 2022 21:15 GMT
#7
Damn. I already lost most of my interest in soccer because of rich arabs with awful values buying their way into western mainstream culture.

Political controversy is a fairly common thing in E-sports. What will be the consequenze if a player shows symphaties in one of the many wars and conflicts Saudi-Arabia is involved with?

It might be a financial move only, but I find it is sad to see this happen to ESL.
Buff the siegetank
tommey.liang
Profile Joined November 2020
United States363 Posts
January 24 2022 21:45 GMT
#8
This is quite a twist that I, or many of us, were not expecting. What does this mean? What are the implications? Saudi Arabia rising?
FF, KH, Persona, Uncharted, Yakuza | Porter, Illenium, MitiS, Dabin, Seven Lions, Petit Biscuit | Diablo II, SC2 | Pho, sushi, tacos
geokilla
Profile Joined May 2011
Canada8240 Posts
January 24 2022 21:57 GMT
#9
$1 billion? Way overpaid
Ziggy
Profile Blog Joined June 2013
South Korea2105 Posts
January 24 2022 22:11 GMT
#10
the Iron Sheik has always been my favourite wrestler
WriterDefeating a sandwich only makes it tastier. @imjustziggy
Nakajin
Profile Blog Joined September 2014
Canada8989 Posts
Last Edited: 2022-01-24 22:15:11
January 24 2022 22:13 GMT
#11
Saudi Arabians becoming the main international diffusers of a game based on killing generic turban-weering middle-estern terrorist fighting the West is a trully facinating exemple of the mind-bogling realities of modern international capitalism.

But past the irony, not sure I like it for SC2, I'd preffer if no one looked to closely at us.
Writerhttp://i.imgur.com/9p6ufcB.jpg
Waxangel
Profile Blog Joined September 2002
United States33432 Posts
January 24 2022 22:22 GMT
#12
On January 25 2022 07:13 Nakajin wrote:
Saudi Arabians becoming the main international diffusers of a game based on killing generic turban-weering middle-estern terrorist fighting the West is a trully facinating exemple of the mind-bogling realities of modern international capitalism.

But past the irony, not sure I like it for SC2, I'd preffer if no one looked to closely at us.


Were there old versions of CS where the terrorists were stereotype middle-eastern? From what I've played of CSGO and source, it seemed like that was avoided pretty intentionally.
AdministratorHey HP can you redo everything youve ever done because i have a small complaint?
iloveoof
Profile Joined July 2019
12 Posts
January 24 2022 22:25 GMT
#13
I’m totally uncomfortable with this even if the new management keeps their commitment to Starcraft 2. ESL has spent so long cultivating a great and well-earned reputation and this is devastating to it.
honorablemacroterran
Profile Joined January 2022
188 Posts
January 24 2022 22:33 GMT
#14
On January 25 2022 07:22 Waxangel wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 25 2022 07:13 Nakajin wrote:
Saudi Arabians becoming the main international diffusers of a game based on killing generic turban-weering middle-estern terrorist fighting the West is a trully facinating exemple of the mind-bogling realities of modern international capitalism.

But past the irony, not sure I like it for SC2, I'd preffer if no one looked to closely at us.


Were there old versions of CS where the terrorists were stereotype middle-eastern? From what I've played of CSGO and source, it seemed like that was avoided pretty intentionally.


CS has different skins for the teams depending on the map. Sometimes the CTs are Seal Team Six, sometimes SAS, and various other European counter-terrorist/special forces teams. One of the terrorist factions was definitely Middle Eastern themed last time I played. There's also Anarchists, Basque Separatists, etc. etc.
Telephone
Profile Joined October 2010
United States142 Posts
January 24 2022 23:08 GMT
#15
According to the article, Savvy Gaming Group is led by CEO Brian Ward, who was once Senior Vice President, Worldwide Studios at Activision Blizzard.
Nakajin
Profile Blog Joined September 2014
Canada8989 Posts
Last Edited: 2022-01-24 23:11:56
January 24 2022 23:10 GMT
#16
On January 25 2022 07:22 Waxangel wrote:
Show nested quote +
On January 25 2022 07:13 Nakajin wrote:
Saudi Arabians becoming the main international diffusers of a game based on killing generic turban-weering middle-estern terrorist fighting the West is a trully facinating exemple of the mind-bogling realities of modern international capitalism.

But past the irony, not sure I like it for SC2, I'd preffer if no one looked to closely at us.


Were there old versions of CS where the terrorists were stereotype middle-eastern? From what I've played of CSGO and source, it seemed like that was avoided pretty intentionally.


Oh, well I gotta be honest I haven't played CS in like 10 years, but my memory of it were the terrorist on like Dust 2 and those seemed pretty much standard middle estern terrorist.
Could be totally wrong for sure.
Writerhttp://i.imgur.com/9p6ufcB.jpg
LHK
Profile Joined May 2015
204 Posts
January 24 2022 23:18 GMT
#17
i do not like this
-Laura
Chris_Havoc
Profile Joined August 2016
United States600 Posts
January 24 2022 23:44 GMT
#18
Considering this group is not only buying ESL but also FaceIT for an additional $500 million, means this deal is primarily about acquiring CS:GO assets and not so much about StarCraft 2.

Now how this deal affects SC2 obviously remains to be seen.
Owner of the SC2 Esports Anthology channel on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SC2EsportsAnthology
Cyro
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom20301 Posts
January 25 2022 00:03 GMT
#19
Well, fuck. At least ESL's former owners have $$$ now
"oh my god my overclock... I got a single WHEA error on the 23rd hour, 9 minutes" -Belial88
Waxangel
Profile Blog Joined September 2002
United States33432 Posts
Last Edited: 2022-01-25 01:18:21
January 25 2022 00:20 GMT
#20
On January 25 2022 08:44 Chris_Havoc wrote:
Considering this group is not only buying ESL but also FaceIT for an additional $500 million, means this deal is primarily about acquiring CS:GO assets and not so much about StarCraft 2.

Now how this deal affects SC2 obviously remains to be seen.


Well, the 2022/23 EPT plan is already laid out, and SC2 is so minor for ESL I imagine it doesn't affect the operations of the league much at all. I think the way fans will notice it most is if random Saudi ventures (NEOM, etc) become the main sponsors of EPT and are prominently displayed/ads played every break. Mind you, this is just talking about how it might affect ESL SC2 in practical terms, not the underlying issue of principle.

AdministratorHey HP can you redo everything youve ever done because i have a small complaint?
1 2 3 4 5 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
OSC
00:00
Mid Season Playoffs #2
CranKy Ducklings98
Liquipedia
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
Nina 112
SpeCial 110
CosmosSc2 48
Vindicta 30
StarCraft: Brood War
Artosis 803
ggaemo 129
sSak 14
Icarus 5
Dota 2
NeuroSwarm165
Counter-Strike
fl0m1699
Stewie2K565
Super Smash Bros
C9.Mang0342
Other Games
summit1g5940
shahzam1034
JimRising 475
Day[9].tv291
SortOf164
Maynarde132
Trikslyr77
Nathanias22
RuFF_SC219
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick1246
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 14 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• davetesta32
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• blackmanpl 14
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Other Games
• Scarra1109
• Day9tv291
Upcoming Events
Sparkling Tuna Cup
8h 20m
Afreeca Starleague
8h 20m
Light vs Speed
Larva vs Soma
2v2
9h 20m
PiGosaur Monday
22h 20m
LiuLi Cup
1d 9h
RSL Revival
2 days
Maru vs Reynor
Cure vs TriGGeR
The PondCast
2 days
RSL Revival
3 days
Zoun vs Classic
Korean StarCraft League
4 days
BSL Open LAN 2025 - War…
4 days
[ Show More ]
RSL Revival
4 days
BSL Open LAN 2025 - War…
5 days
RSL Revival
5 days
Online Event
5 days
Wardi Open
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2025-09-10
Chzzk MurlocKing SC1 vs SC2 Cup #2
HCC Europe

Ongoing

BSL 20 Team Wars
KCM Race Survival 2025 Season 3
BSL 21 Points
ASL Season 20
CSL 2025 AUTUMN (S18)
LASL Season 20
RSL Revival: Season 2
Maestros of the Game
FISSURE Playground #2
BLAST Open Fall 2025
BLAST Open Fall Qual
Esports World Cup 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall Qual
IEM Cologne 2025
FISSURE Playground #1

Upcoming

2025 Chongqing Offline CUP
BSL World Championship of Poland 2025
IPSL Winter 2025-26
BSL Season 21
SC4ALL: Brood War
BSL 21 Team A
Stellar Fest
SC4ALL: StarCraft II
EC S1
ESL Impact League Season 8
SL Budapest Major 2025
BLAST Rivals Fall 2025
IEM Chengdu 2025
PGL Masters Bucharest 2025
MESA Nomadic Masters Fall
Thunderpick World Champ.
CS Asia Championships 2025
ESL Pro League S22
StarSeries Fall 2025
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2025 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.