Guild Esports PLC
FormerlyThe Lords Esports
TypePublic
LSE: GILD
IndustryEsports
FoundedSeptember 2019 (September 2019)
Headquarters16 Northumberland Avenue
London,
United Kingdom
Key people
Owners
Divisions
6
WebsiteOfficial website

Guild Esports PLC (previously The Lords Esports) is a United Kingdom-based professional esports company founded in 2019. The company is co-owned by former professional football player David Beckham and launched globally in June 2020. Guild Esports was the first esports firm to be publicly traded in the United Kingdom. The organisation has competitive teams in Counter-Strike 2, EAFC 24, Fortnite, Street Fighter 6, F4 Esports (Sim Racing) and Valorant.[2]

History

The Guild Esports was founded in September 2019 under the name The Lords Esports.[4] Later that year, the company sold 11.7% of its shares to investment firm Blue Star Capital for £150,000 (US$195,000). In June 2020, The Lords Esports raised an additional £5 million (US$6.5 M) in private funding, with former professional football player David Beckham acquiring a "significant minority stake" in the company, and rebranded to Guild Esports.[5] The company made its shares available through its initial public offering (IPO) on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) in September 2020, making Guild Esports the first publicly traded esports organization on the LSE, and raised £20 million (US$27.4 M) through the IPO.[6] In September 2021, it was announced that Guild had become main shirt sponsors of League of Ireland Premier Division club Finn Harps, meaning the brand would also feature in FIFA 22 on the club's shirts.[7]

In January 2022, Guild Esports signed a 10-year lease for a 9,831 sq ft (913.3 m2) facility in London. The facility will act as the organization's headquarters and training facility and is expected to open in Q2.[8]

Esports

In November 2020, Guild Esports created their Fortnite division.[9] In March 2021, the team won the Fortnite Champion Series European Grand Finals.[10] The next month, the organisation's Rocket League team won the Rocket League Championship Series EU Spring Regional.[11]

Rosters

Guild Esports rosters
FIFA
HandleNameNationality
NRaseck Raseck, Niklas Germany
nicolas99fc Villalba, Nicolas Argentina
Fortnite Battle Royale
HandleNameNationality
Rick Clean, Rick United Kingdom
Anas El-Abd, Anas Denmark
Counter-Strike 2 (Eagles) [lower-alpha 1]
HandleNameNationality
rigoN Gashi, Rigon Switzerland
SENER1 Mahmuti, Sener
juanflatroo Halimi, Flatron
sinnopsyy Budeci, Dionis
gxx- Kolgeci, Genc
Counter-Strike 2 (Impact)
HandleNameNationality
KiKi Holmen, Kaia Norway
pullox Evensen, Thea Norway
Ann4 Laurinoviča, Anna Latvia
Nea Claesson, Linnea Sweden
KitKaT Bauenmand, Katharina Denmark
Legend:
  • (I) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • (L) On loan
  • (2W) Two-way player
  • Substitute player Substitute
  • Injured Injury / Illness

Notes

  1. ↑ Due to technical limitations, it can not be displayed that SENER1, juanflatroo, sinnopsyy and gxx- represent Kosovo.

References

  1. 1 2 "Guild Esports Board of Directors". Guild Esports. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  2. 1 2 Gardner, Matt. "How Guild Esports Aims To Change Competitive Gaming Forever". Forbes. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Guild Esports Significant Shareholders". Guild Esports. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  4. ↑ Seck, Tobias (25 June 2020). "David Beckham Co-Owned Guild Esports Launches, Seeks $31M Investment". The Esports Observer. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  5. ↑ Seck, Tobias (10 September 2020). "Opinion: Why Guild Esports' IPO Plans Should Raise Red Flags". The Esports Observer. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  6. ↑ Shead, Sam (2 October 2020). "David Beckham-backed esports firm IPOs on London Stock Exchange". CNBC. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  7. ↑ Šimić, Ivan (30 September 2021). "Guild Esports partners with Irish football club Finn Harps FC". Esportsinsider.
  8. ↑ Murray, Trent (20 January 2022). "Beckham-backed Guild Esports establishing London HQ". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  9. ↑ Gardner, Matt (19 November 2020). "'Fortnite' Top-20 Player Joins Beckham's Guild Esports". Forbes. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  10. ↑ Gardner, Matt. "Guild Esports Smashes Expectations, Wins First Major Trophy In 'Fortnite'". Forbes. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  11. ↑ Gardner, Matt. "Huge 'Rocket League' Win Gives Guild Esports Its Second Major Trophy". Forbes. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
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