Ralf Reichert
CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, co-founder of SK Gaming and ESL
Who this is
Ralf Reichert, born in 1974, grew up with video games and organised tournaments at home with his brothers early on. In the summer of 1997 they founded the clan Schroet Kommando, today SK Gaming. In autumn 2000 ESL launched, with Ralf in charge of esports, and over the decades he built it into the largest esports company. After ESL was sold to Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group, he is now CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, which runs the Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Episodes
Numbers from the episode
FAQ
Who is Ralf Reichert?
Ralf Reichert is CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation. In 1997 he founded SK Gaming with his brothers, and from autumn 2000 he helped build ESL, where he was in charge of esports. ESL was later sold to Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group. To the episode →
Why did Savvy Games Group buy ESL?
As part of its Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has a games and esports strategy. The sovereign wealth fund PIF positioned Savvy Games Group as its international vehicle for it, and buying the largest esports company was its anchor deal. At the time, ESL was in the middle of a process to go public. The term sheet was signed in January 2022. Ralf stresses it was a commercial deal, with Goldman Sachs negotiating on the other side. To the episode →
Quotes
„Direct-to-Consumer ist, glaube ich, die große Opportunity vom E-Sports, direkt da etwas mehr zu machen.““I think direct-to-consumer is the big opportunity for esports, to do a bit more there directly.”
„… Sport ist ja Wettbewerb, der basiert auf dem Vergleich von wer ist der Beste und ohne dass du Spitzensport hast in welcher Art und Weise, glaube ich nicht, dass das langfristig als Zuschauersport erfolgreich sein kann.““Sport is competition, it's based on comparing who is the best, and without elite performance in some form I don't think it can succeed as a spectator sport in the long run.”
„Wir waren mal das Land der Dichter und Denker. Videospiele sind das Erzählungsmedium des 21. Jahrhunderts.““We used to be the land of poets and thinkers. Video games are the storytelling medium of the 21st century.”
„Das muss ein super Produkt sein, muss ein klares Warum geben.““It has to be a great product, there has to be a clear why.”