German magazine Sport Bild claimed Riot Games is "currently in talks" with three Premier League teams: Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Swansea City, according to Jack Stewart of the London DAILY MAIL. On top of that, the publication has "doubts over Schalke's EU LCS future." Bild "struggle to believe" that Schalke will be willing to pay the €8M ($9.5M) entry fee to the league as it is losing two of its football players, Leon Goretzka and Max Meyer, for free. Schalke Esports' PR team responded on Reddit, saying, "As of right now there is no yes or no on the permanent partnership from our side." Meanwhile, all three of the aforementioned EPL teams "already have ties within the esports industry." Arsenal's largest shareholder, Stan Kroenke, is the co-owner of Overwatch League team Los Angeles Gladiators while Swansea co-Owner Steve Kaplan in '16 became a majority shareholder in American esports organization Immortals. Crystal Palace's owners, American investors Josh Harris and David Blitzer, acquired British esports organization Team Dignitas in '16 (DAILY MAIL, 5/10).
WILLIAMS' NEW VENTURE: REUTERS' Alan Baldwin reported Williams Formula 1 launched its official esports team on Thursday, offering gamers the chance to work in the F1 simulator as well as race online. The organization said in a statement at the Spanish Grand Prix that it "would run competitions for places on the Williams esports roster." The esports team, with three drivers already signed, will be managed by JIM Racing Founder Javier Guerra (REUTERS, 5/10).
