Your Partner in Esports
ESL is the pinnacle of esports, where people from all over the world compete in the most prestigious tournaments to prove themselves. With over 20+ years of creating and organizing esports events, ESL is the birthplace of some of the world’s most epic events.
The brand encapsulates the entire experience of coming from nowhere, grinding and reaching
the absolute top, going from zero to hero.
* Accumulated EFG Statistics from 2023. Source: Newzoo & internal data.
Our People
The EFG family can be found all over the world and consists of people from all walks of life. We have some of the most experienced, knowledgable, and most professional people helping us realizing our goals, bringing the best products to life for our fans, our community, and our partners.
Your Partner in Esports
ESL is the pinnacle of esports, where people from all over the world compete in the most prestigious of tournaments to prove themselves. With over 20+ years of creating and
organising esports events, ESL is birthplace of some of the worlds most epic events.
The brand capsulates the entire experience of coming from nowhere, grinding and reaching
the absolute top, going from zero to hero.
The latest ESL Gaming insights
The story of ESL’s sonic identity
Building the ESL Gaming Family
ECONOMIC IMPACT ON HOST CITIES
Our Corporate Responsibility Program
Our History
2020
- DreamHack and ESL join forces, creating ESL Gaming!
2019
- ESL evolves its master brand with a rebranding
2018
- ESL One Cologne sells out LANXESS Arena, Germany's biggest indoor sports arena for the third time in a row!
2017
- ESL introducing PUBG to esports community with the rise of the battle royal genre
- ESL’s German Dota 2 competition finds new home in Hamburg
2016
- ESL One Cologne is sold out with 14,000 visitors per day
- The World Esport Association (WESA) is founded
- ESL Pro League records 74 million impressions on Facebook and Twitter
2015
- ESL One Cologne has over 27 million viewers with a high of 1.3 million concurrent viewers online
- ESL Pro League with 1 million US dollars prize money announced
2014
- First mega event on German soil (ESL One Frankfurt) in a football stadium
- Nearly 650,000 simultaneous spectators at the IEM Katowice
- Electronic Sports League now only called ESL after rebranding
2013
- For the first time events on 6 different continents
- IEM takes place in Katowice for the first time
2012
- 4 million members in the ESL
- Further global distribution with offices in Australia and Baltics as well as the first IEM in Brazil
2011
- LoL is accepted into the IEM
- IEM World Finals record 85,000 simultaneous spectators
2010
- ESL reaches 3 million members
2009
- ESL celebrates 2,500,000 members and 207 Million page impressions (IVW)
- ESL releases the Matchmaker
- Turtle Entertainment (ESL) wins LARA award
2008
- 2 million members in the ESL
- New branches in the US, UK, Scandinavia & Poland
- IEM to be held for the first time in the US, Dubai and South Korea
2007
- First Intel Extreme Masters at Cebit, Hannover
2006
- IFNG attracts 750 spectators in Oberhausen
2005
- Implementation of the anti-cheat system
- Almost 1 million members in the ESL
- ESL runs on TV on GIGA
2004
- First booth at the Games Convention
2003
- Opening of the first branch in France
2002
- Start of the ESL Pro Series
- First Intel Friday Night Games at Future Point
2001
- The ESL celebrates its first 100.000 members
- Electronic Sports League 2.0 Release
2000
- Foundation of Turtle Entertainment
- Launch of the Electronic Sports League