• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EST 02:28
CET 08:28
KST 16:28
  • 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
[ASL22] Finals Preview: Sweet Victory!12[ASL22] Ro4 Preview: Mirror Mirror6[ASL22] Ro8 Preview: Within Reach5[ASL22] Ro8 Preview: In A Tizzy11[ASL22] Ro16 Preview: Holy Diver5
Community News
Weekly Cups (October 19-25): Clem triples first in 5.0.175Evil Geniuses - shutting down21ISSL (IntoTheTV x SOOP SC2 League): Premier7Weekly Cups (October 12-18): 5.0.17 era begins1[$1250] International ShieldBattery League100
StarCraft 2
General
No more SC2 streamers on team liquid? How do you feel about the mass reverts in the 5.0.17 PTR? Behind the Blue - Team Liquid History Book 5.0.17 Patch Notes - October 7, 2026 Evil Geniuses - shutting down
Tourneys
WardiTV Mondays ISSL (IntoTheTV x SOOP SC2 League): Premier Stellar Fest TWO the Moon (Dec 16-20) Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament RSL goes to London! 2026 Offline Finals Nov 21-22
Strategy
[H] ZvP Mid-Late Game: Stalkers Collossi HT
Custom Maps
[D] the control group Simple Questions/Answers [G] How to playtest arcade maps [A] Nemrods 1/4 players
External Content
Mutation # 550 Graveyard Shift The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 549 Endless Sparkles Mutation # 548 Shining Bright
Brood War
General
Rollback Netcode in Brood War How SKT1 S-Tiers Felt To Be Swept By Flash Top Players of October 2026 (EBPD Rankings) BW General Discussion Sagi.gg Launcher Released
Tourneys
[$1250] International ShieldBattery League [Megathread] Daily Proleagues 2v2v2v2 Tournament Stage 1: Community Poll [IPSL] IPSL Winter 26-27 Ro24 is HERE!
Strategy
50,000-Word Terran Builds Memo 2026-10-22 Cliff Jump Revisited (1 in a 1000 strategy) Simple Questions, Simple Answers
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Nintendo Switch Thread Deus Ex 3!? Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Armies of Exigo - YesYes?
Dota 2
Dota 2 Champions League Season 3 Begins April 25!
League of Legends
[TL LoL EUW IHs] Teemo shall perish
Heroes of the Storm
Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread
Community
General
Men's Fashion Thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine US Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread The Chess Thread
Fan Clubs
Fan Club Resource Thread Reynor Fan Club The Flash Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
Anime Discussion Thread Movie Discussion! [Manga] One Piece
Sports
Football (Soccer) Thread TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 MLB/Baseball 2023
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
Recent Gifted Posts
Blogs
Why I built Repalyzer (1.1.…
BlueStar
Innovate or Game Over?
TrAiDoS
ShieldBattery on Mac
Kraekkling
[ASL22] Ro4 Day1 Ticket Giv…
bITt.mAN
Can Bots Beat Pros?? Starcr…
namkraft
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 10683 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 States33712 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 States117 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
2018 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
Canada8255 Posts
January 24 2022 21:57 GMT
#9
$1 billion? Way overpaid
Ziggy
Profile Blog Joined June 2013
South Korea2107 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
Canada8991 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 States33712 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 States149 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
Canada8991 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 Kingdom20345 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 States33712 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
Next event in 5h 32m
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
WinterStarcraft571
StarCraft: Brood War
Rain 2130
Hyuk 272
Killer 180
ProTech171
Pusan 61
ToSsGirL 40
Bale 29
ZergMaN 18
Noble 14
Icarus 9
[ Show more ]
Force[name] 4
Dota 2
NeuroSwarm224
ODPixel121
League of Legends
JimRising 602
Counter-Strike
fl0m4179
olofmeister527
Other Games
summit1g9811
XaKoH 415
C9.Mang0247
Happy242
ceh9240
Mew2King77
Sick63
Organizations
Other Games
gamesdonequick447
Counter-Strike
PGL264
[ Show 13 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• Laughngamez YouTube
• Migwel
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• lizZardDota2479
League of Legends
• Rush1329
• Lourlo964
• Stunt460
Upcoming Events
Patches Events
5h 32m
PiGosaur Cup
17h 32m
Kung Fu Cup
1d 3h
Replay Cast
1d 15h
The PondCast
2 days
KCM Race Survival
2 days
OSC
2 days
IntoTheTV X SOOP
4 days
Reynor vs Solar
ByuN vs SHIN
Clem vs MaxPax
herO vs Rogue
WardiTV Invitational
4 days
IPSL
4 days
WorsT vs nOmaD
Dewalt vs andersOn
[ Show More ]
IntoTheTV X SOOP
5 days
WardiTV Invitational
5 days
IPSL
5 days
Azhi_Dahaki vs ggnore13
Double vs WIZARD
Replay Cast
5 days
Replay Cast
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2026-11-02
Blizzard Classic Cup 2026
HCC Season 3

Ongoing

Acropolis #5
KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 4
International ShieldBattery League
BSL Season 23
IPSL Winter 2026-27
Calamity Cup Div. A Season 8
IEM Beijing 2026
PGL Masters Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 5
1win Private Club #2
Thunderpick World Champ. '26
ESL Pro League Season 24
Stake Ranked Episode 4
1win Private Club #1
Logitech G Play Connect 2026
SL StarSeries Fall 2026
FISSURE Playground #3
BLAST Open Fall 2026
Esports World Cup 2026

Upcoming

1xBet Invitational
SC4ALL II: Brood War
BSL 23: Non-Korean Championship
HSC XXX
Stellar Fest 2: Lunar Cup
SC4ALL II: StarCraft II
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
RSL Offline Finals
BLAST Bounty Winter 2027
eXTREMESLAND 2026
PGL Major Singapore 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 6
BLAST Rivals Fall 2026
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 © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.