After one of the most highly publicized bidding wars in the history of esports, Team Dignitas has finally agreed to terms to sell its European League of Legends team, according to sources close to the organization.
Team Dignitas and the unknown buyer have agreed to a deal, and all that remains is to sign the paperwork. For its part, Team Dignitas declined to comment on this article. But sources tell the Daily Dot the winning bid was upwards of $1 million.
That figure became the subject of widespread speculation after Dignitas’ European team qualified for the League Championships Series (LCS), the highest level of the competition in Europe and North America, on Aug. 12. That left Dignitas with a problem: It now had two teams in the premier competition for League of Legends.
Riot Games, the game developer that runs the LCS, prohibits any organization from owning two teams in the LCS to prevent any potential conflicts of interest. One team had to go. In early September, team owner Michael “Odee” O’Dell announced he’d accept offers for both teams. Thus began the widely publicized bidding war that received widespread coverage even outside the industry, including a writeup on the BBC.
Team Dignitas.EU Formed up in Feb 2015 after acquiring the lineup of SK Gaming Prime. After various roster changes, the team settled on an all-Danish squad including promising mid lane talent Chres “Sencux” Laursen and former LCS starter for MYM, Nicolai “Nisbeth” Nisbeth. The team posted an 8-2 record in the Challenger Series Summer Split before defeating Denial and Mousesports in the playoffs to gain qualification to the LCS. It’s not clear if the new owners will continue with the same lineup and support staff.
It’s unclear why the organization chose to sell off their European squad. Dignitas is based in Europe and owns a Danish Counter-Strike: Global Offensive team that also features an all-Danish lineup. The North American team has certainly been the organization’s main focus in years past, especially after the team signed two South Korean players, Noh “Gamsu” yeong-jin and Jo “CoreJJ” Yong-in, last season.
Dignitas isn’t the first organization forced to sell its team after its second team qualified for the LCS. Team Curse were forced to say farewell to their academy side last year when they earned qualification to the LCS, selling the team to young entrepreneur Davis “Samurai” Vague, who rebranded the lineup in Gravity.
Image via Team Dignitas/Riot Games | Remix by Fernando Alfonso III
