ESL Faceit and Intel Extend Their Long-Standing Partnership

Shortly before IEM Katowice, ESL Faceit and Intel announced an extension of their partnership, which has now lasted over 20 years. Since its launch, IEM events have accumulated more than 2 billion hours of streaming viewership.

This is one of the most successful and, above all, longest-running partnerships in esports. For 24 years, ESL, now part of the ESL Faceit Group, has worked with Intel as its title sponsor in esports. The Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) has long since grown into a major global event. Just ahead of IEM Katowice—the first big IEM highlight of the year—the partners confirmed their commitment to continuing their collaboration in the future.

According to the companies, the partnership has been extended for several years, though ESL and Intel did not disclose specific details. Instead, they highlighted some impressive figures from their collaboration. Over the years, IEM events have amassed more than 2 billion hours of streamed content, with total prize money exceeding $27 million. In 2024 alone, IEM events recorded 162 million viewer hours and sold nearly 160,000 tickets to on-site visitors.

Germany’s largest regular esports tournament is also an Intel Extreme Masters event. IEM Cologne is often referred to as the "Cathedral of Esports," a nod to the famous Cologne Cathedral. In the early days of esports, Intel also served as the title sponsor for local esports events in Germany, known as Intel Friday Nights.

"Intel has been a strong supporter of competitive gaming since the 1990s, and ESL and EFG have been essential partners in supporting the esports community throughout the decades," said Roger Chandler, General Manager and Vice President, Enthusiast PC and Workstation Segment at Intel. And Rodrigo Samwell, Chief Commercial Officer, EFG, adds: "This is more than just a renewal, it’s a strategic partnership that exemplifies the kind of collaborations we value most."