Nicklas Bendtner Acquires Team Singularity: A New Chapter in Esports
In a thrilling development for the esports industry, former professional soccer player Nicklas Bendtner has acquired full ownership of Danish esports organisation Team Singularity. Bendtner, known for his stints at English Premier League club Arsenal and Wolfsburg, retired from football three years ago. His transition from field to screen marks a significant moment in both his career and the evolution of esports.
Under Bendtner's leadership, Team Singularity is expected to undergo a transformation, guided by the newly formed investment and management company, Legendary Gaming Group. Bendtner has founded this group with a clear mission to revolutionize esports, focusing on elite talent development, cutting-edge gaming experiences, and thrilling events.
The Legendary Gaming Group has already made notable investments, including stakes in New Breed Agency, Legendary Arena, and a yet-unnamed esports and gaming brand. The group is poised to make significant waves in the industry, leveraging Bendtner's passion and expertise to drive innovation and growth.
Bendtner, known affectionately as 'Lord Bendtner' following a 2015 tabloid stunt, shared his enthusiasm for his new venture. “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,” he said. Although his precise role within the company is yet to be finalized, Bendtner’s involvement promises to be active and influential.
The acquisition follows a statement from Team Singularity founder Atle Stehouwer, who expressed his excitement about the new direction for the team. “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,” Stehouwer stated.
Joining Bendtner and Stehouwer at Legendary Gaming Group are Morten Jensen, founder of Tricked Esport, Stephen Shine, and Jonas Rosbech. Team Singularity and Tricked both have histories of competition in the UK/Nordics League of Legends NLC, although Tricked Esport closed down last year. Team Singularity has been a mainstay in the UK LoL scene since 2017, even being part of the old ESL UK Premiership.
The esports community is eagerly awaiting an announcement from Team Singularity, teased for August 1st, 2024. This announcement is expected to shed more light on the future direction of the team under Legendary Gaming Group's ownership.
Bendtner’s journey into esports began during the COVID-19 pandemic when he started playing CSGO. He even owned a small CSGO team, Prosapia Esport, before focusing on broader esports investments. His participation in a CSGO showmatch at the Blast Premier Fall Finals in Copenhagen in November 2022, where he played for Team Denmark, demonstrated his commitment and passion for the gaming world.
Outside of his sporting ventures, Bendtner has also been in the public eye for his personal life, including a relationship with Caroline Luel-Brockdorff, who hails from Danish royalty. His 'Lord' title, humorously bestowed by a Danish tabloid, adds a unique flair to his public persona.
In related news, Arsene Wenger, who coached Bendtner at Arsenal, was recently announced as an ambassador for a new $100,000 FIFAe World Cup of Football Manager esports tournament. This development underscores the growing intersection between traditional football and esports, with prominent figures from the football world increasingly engaging with the gaming industry.
As Bendtner embarks on this new chapter, the esports community will be watching closely. His ambition to blend top-tier athletics and cutting-edge gaming experiences could set new benchmarks in the industry. With his leadership, Legendary Gaming Group and Team Singularity are poised for an exciting future.