ESL FACEIT Group and Intel renew 24-year-old partnership in multi-year deal

ESL FACEIT Group and Intel and ESL FACEIT Group have renewed their partnership for 2025 and beyond, seeing the two companies extend the sponsorship after more than 24 years working together in the esports space. The partnership will see Intel continue to be ESL's primary sponsor for their Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) tournament series while also being among the main sponsors for their esports offerings in general.

Intel's sponsorship of ESL dates back to the early 2000s when the technology company began supporting ESL's online and LAN offerings in Germany. Since then, the two parties have collaborated on the Intel Extreme Masters tournament series, Counter-Strike's Intel Grand Slam $1,000,000 competition incentives program, and the ESL Impact League, among other projects and initiatives.

While EFG nor Intel disclosed the financial details of the renewal, ESL previously disclosed that their three-year partnership with Intel from 2021 totaled more than $100m, demonstrating how lucrative the continued deal with the Saudi-owned ESL FACEIT Group is for the company.

Rodrigo Samwell, chief commercial officer at EFG, offered the following statement about the renewal:

"This is more than just a renewal, it’s a strategic partnership that exemplifies the kind of collaborations we value most. Over time, Intel has become the most respected brand in esports because they’ve been with us, building this industry from the ground up. You simply cannot touch the pedigree that Intel has earned with the esports and gaming communities. Together, we’re excited to continue delivering unparalleled experiences and celebrating IEM champions for years to come.”

IEM Katowice 2025 is currently underway, with playoffs for the $1,000,000 tournament set to start on February 7th.