Nicklas Bendtner Acquires Danish Esports Organisation Team Singularity
Nicklas Bendtner, the former professional footballer renowned for his time with English Premier League club Arsenal and Wolfsburg, has fully acquired Denmark's esports organisation Team Singularity. This move marks a significant step in Bendtner’s post-football career, showcasing his increasing investment in the esports industry.
Bendtner, who officially retired from football three years ago, has set his sights on the rapidly growing field of esports. He has established the Legendary Gaming Group, an investment and management company dedicated to esports. The group has already made notable investments, including New Breed Agency, Legendary Arena, and an as-yet-unnamed esports and gaming brand.
“I am really pleased with the team we have assembled at Legendary and look forward to being part of something bigger in an industry I am fascinated by,” Bendtner stated. His passion for the esports space is evident, and he plans to take on an active role within the company, with his exact title still to be determined.
The Legendary Team
Bendtner, often referred to as Lord Bendtner, leads the Legendary Gaming Group alongside key industry figures. The team includes Team Singularity founder Atle Stehouwer, Tricked Esport founder Morten Jensen, Stephen Shine, and Jonas Rosbech. Stehouwer expressed his excitement about the collaboration, saying, “For the past two years, after being passive in Team Singularity’s operations, I’ve been in talks with numerous potential partners about various opportunities in the market and potentially starting something new. I’m thrilled and honoured to have found a proper home for Team Singularity under the Legendary Gaming Group wings and to have been able to bring a strong ownership group together to form the foundation of Legendary Gaming Group.”
Team Singularity’s Legacy
Team Singularity has been a significant presence in the early UK League of Legends scene, participating in competitions from as early as 2017 and being part of the old ESL UK Premiership. Their continued involvement in the UK/Nordics League of Legends NLC ensures their legacy within the community remains strong. With the acquisition by Legendary Gaming Group, the future looks promising for the team, particularly with hints of a major announcement scheduled for August 1st, 2024.
Notably, Tricked Esport, another organisation involved in the NLC, closed down last year, underscoring the challenging landscape of the esports industry. The merger or acquisition of such teams under the banner of a well-funded and strategically guided entity like Legendary Gaming Group could spell new opportunities for growth and sustainability.
Bendtner’s Journey in Esports
Bendtner’s interest in esports is not new. He began playing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO) during the COVID-19 pandemic and even owned a small CSGO team named Prosapia Esport. Demonstrating his hands-on engagement, Bendtner participated in a showmatch at the Blast Premier Fall Finals in November 2022 at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen, where he played on Team Denmark.
Adding a touch of personal flair, Bendtner earned the title "Lord" in 2015 when Danish celebrity tabloid ‘Se og Hør’ bought him a square foot of land in Scotland, leveraging a quirk of Scottish landownership laws. This playful title was a nod to his larger-than-life personality, which he continues to bring into his new ventures.
Strategic Vision
The Legendary Gaming Group aims to redefine the esports industry, promoting elite talent development and hosting thrilling events. With Bendtner and his team at the helm, the organisation prides itself on delivering cutting-edge gaming experiences. This bold vision positions Legendary Gaming Group as a formidable player in the esports arena, leveraging Bendtner’s celebrity status and the team's expertise to attract attention and investment.
Arsene Wenger, Bendtner’s former manager at Arsenal, was recently announced as an ambassador for a new $100,000 FIFAe World Cup of Football Manager esports tournament, reflecting the increasing crossover between traditional sports professionals and the burgeoning esports field. This trend underscores the growing recognition of esports as a legitimate and lucrative branch of the sports world.
With these developments, Nicklas Bendtner steps fully into the esports limelight, transitioning from his days on the football pitch to a new arena filled with potential and innovation. The essence of his journey underscores a deepening relationship between traditional sports and esports, promising exciting times ahead for fans and participants in both fields.