Esport fans at IEM Oakland in November 2018. Photo: Jonas Alsaker Vikan

Monday July 9th was my last day as Tournament Director for ESL`s pro level esport competitions.

I wanted to share some words on the experience, and why it had to end for me at this point.

During the last 11 months, I have spent 138 days on the road. I supervised 11 pro level competitions in that period, in Germany, US (New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Dallas), Denmark, Malaysia, South Korea, Poland, Australia and Brazil.

To do all this meant spending 4,5 months away from my two kids (aged 3 and 5 years). This works for some, but it doesn`t work for me.

Walking away now, from esports and from such an exciting position in the world`s biggest esport company, is hard. I started in esports in 1999, when there was no esports. Just a computer and some games. No lights, no money, no fame, no future.

Today`s spectacles grew out of the basements because of you: Everyone who`s ever enjoyed a game competitively, either it was through playing, watching or otherwise contributing to the growth of our thing.

While most at our stadium-sized events are watching the action unfold on stage, I took the time to watch you: Our audience. It never seizes to amaze me how you continue to push competitive gaming forward. As an avid football fan, I can now truthfully state that the live esports fan experience is not lagging far behind the world`s most widely watched sport. And you are just getting started by going to see your favorite esport teams in big arenas.

A friend who has supported my every esport endeavor over nearly 20 years asked me if I am now finally done with esports. My answer was I think that`s not possible, its fabric is too closely weaved with who I am. It has given me everything. But for right now, I need to step down.

ESL has treated me extremely well throughout the year. I want to personally thank Michal Blicharz, Craig Levine, Ulrich Schulze and Sebastian Weishaar for their support. The company has some of the hardest working, passionate and dedicated people I have ever met. In parting it was nice to be able to announce some fruits from that labor: That ESL was awarded the first CSGO Major since 2016. I wish ESL nothing but continued success, and trust that its leaders and staff will carry on while also recognizing the extended responsibility to the sport and its communities that comes with being the market leader.