Deutsche Telekom acquires stake in SK Gaming

Mobile communications provider Deutsche Telekom has acquired a 25 percent stake in German organisation SK Gaming.

This deal is the successful outcome of negotiations that started in June 2018 when Deutsche Telekom became a partner of SK Gaming.

SK Gaming SMITE World Championship
Photo credit: Hi-Rez Studios

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Deutsche Telekom owns the mobile communication brand T-Mobile which operates in the United States, Poland, Netherlands, and the Czech Republic. It’s also linked to the European League of Legends scene through its partnership with Premier Tour.

Alexander T. Muller, CEO of SK Gaming discussed the development in a release: “With Deutsche Telekom, we intend to further develop the eSports sector, and in some ways to redefine it. In the course of our cooperation in the past, we’ve managed to move forward a lot at many different levels. We’re now looking forward to taking the next steps together.”

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SK Gaming houses teams in Riot Games’ LEC, FIFA, SMITE, Clash Royale, and Hearthstone. Its SMITE team won the 2019 World Championship in November. In addition to Deutsche Telekom, SK Gaming is owned by FC Koln, Mercedes-Benz, and Muller. They each own 25 percent in the organisation.

Hiro Kishi, Head of Sports Sponsorship at Deutsche Telekom had this to say on the deal: “Our acquisition underlines the importance and value that Deutsche Telekom places on eSports and gaming. Our networks, products and services provide the best possible environment for the eSports and gaming community. SK Gaming is the perfect partner with whom we can cooperate to shape the market into the future.”

Esports Insider says: By strengthening its link with this acquisition, Deutsche Telekom’s partnership with SK Gaming proves to be fruitful. The esports organisation can head to 2020 with a restful mind, and it’ll be intriguing to see how they plan to “redine” esports moving forward.

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