# ESL

> esport organization

**Wikidata**: [Q1326127](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1326127)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESL_(company))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/esl

## Summary
ESL is an esports organization founded in 2000 that operates as both a business and a sports league. Also known as Electronic Sports League or ESL Gaming, the entity facilitates competitive gaming through a structure that encompasses commercial, industrial, and professional activities.

## Key Facts
- **Inception:** ESL was founded in 2000.
- **Aliases:** The entity is also known as Electronic Sports League and ESL Gaming.
- **Classifications:** ESL is defined as an esport organization, a business (organization undertaking commercial, industrial, or professional activity), and a sports league (group of sports teams or individual athletes that compete against each other).
- **Websites:** The official online presence includes http://www.esl.eu/ and https://www.eslgaming.com/.
- **Ownership:** ESL is owned and operated by Modern Times Group and the Public Investment Fund.
- **Modern Times Group Details:** This owner is a company founded on January 1, 1997, with industry code , country code Q34, and headquarters code .
- **Public Investment Fund Details:** This owner is a sovereign wealth fund owned by Saudi Arabia, established on August 17, 1971, with country code  and headquarters code .
- **Operations:** ESL owns and operates the Intel Extreme Masters and the ESEA League.
- **Intel Extreme Masters:** A series of international esports tournaments with an inception date of 2007.
- **ESEA League:** An esports competitive video gaming community founded in 2003 with industry code .
- **Sitelink Count:** The entity has a sitelink count of 25.

## FAQs
**What is ESL?**
ESL is an esports organization established in 2000 that functions as both a business and a sports league. It is also referred to as Electronic Sports League or ESL Gaming.

**Who owns ESL?**
ESL is owned and operated by Modern Times Group, a company founded in 1997, and the Public Investment Fund, a sovereign wealth fund owned by Saudi Arabia that was established in 1971.

**What tournaments and leagues are operated by ESL?**
ESL operates the Intel Extreme Masters, a series of international esports tournaments founded in 2007, and the ESEA League, a competitive video gaming community founded in 2003.

**What are the official websites for ESL?**
The organization maintains websites at http://www.esl.eu/ and https://www.eslgaming.com/.

## Why It Matters
ESL plays a critical role in the esports ecosystem by bridging the gap between informal gaming communities and structured, professional sports leagues. By operating major properties like the Intel Extreme Masters and the ESEA League, it provides the infrastructure necessary for high-level competition and community engagement. The organization's backing by significant entities such as Modern Times Group and the Public Investment Fund underscores its commercial stability and strategic importance in the global market.

## Notable For
- **Dual Classification:** Functions uniquely as both a commercial business and a structured sports league.
- **Longevity:** Founded in 2000, it has a long history within the esports industry relative to the sector's growth.
- **Major Portfolio:** Owns and operates prominent entities including the Intel Extreme Masters (international tournaments) and ESEA League (competitive community).
- **Strategic Ownership:** Distinguished by ownership from a major media company (Modern Times Group) and a sovereign wealth fund (Public Investment Fund).

## Body

### Identity and Classification
ESL, formally known as Electronic Sports League or ESL Gaming, is an esport organization that was established in the year 2000. It is categorized under multiple classes, including business and sports league. As a business, it is defined as an organization undertaking commercial, industrial, or professional activity. As a sports league, it serves as a group of sports teams or individual athletes that compete against each other. The organization maintains a digital presence through two primary websites: http://www.esl.eu/ and https://www.eslgaming.com/.

### Ownership and Corporate Structure
The operations and ownership of ESL are shared between two major entities: Modern Times Group and the Public Investment Fund.

*   **Modern Times Group:** Identified as a company, this owner was founded on January 1, 1997. Its corporate details include an industry classification of , a country designation of Q34, and a headquarters location of .
*   **Public Investment Fund:** This owner is a sovereign wealth fund owned by Saudi Arabia. It was established on August 17, 1971, with its country listed as  and headquarters as .

### Operations and Properties
ESL owns and operates several key entities within the esports sector, specifically focusing on tournaments and competitive gaming communities.

*   **Intel Extreme Masters:** This property is a series of international esports tournaments. It has an inception date of 2007.
*   **ESEA League:** This property is an esports competitive video gaming community. It was founded in 2003 and operates within the industry identified by code .

### History and Context
The organization was founded in 2000, positioning it as an early entity in the professional esports space. It currently holds a sitelink count of 25 and is documented under the Wikipedia title "ESL (company)".

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. Google Knowledge Graph
3. [Source](https://golden.com/wiki/ESL_(eSports)-AJG3YK)
4. YouTube API