Guild Esports

Last updated

Guild Esports & Gaming
Company typePrivate
Industry Esports
FoundedSeptember 3, 2019;6 years ago (2019-09-03)
DefunctAugust 21, 2025;18 days ago (2025-08-21)
FateFinancial challenges
Headquarters2 Chance Street, Shoreditch, London, E1 6JT,
United Kingdom [1]
Key people
  • Managing Director: Hari Sandhu
  • Managing Director: Gary Ladrido
Owner DCB Sports
Divisions
4
Website Official website

Guild Esports & Gaming LTD (formerly The Lords eSports PLC, Guild Esports PLC) was a United Kingdom-based professional esports company founded in 2019. The organisation was the first esports firm to be publicly traded in the United Kingdom, before being fully acquired by US-based sports company DCB Sports in October 2024, and delisting from the London Stock Exchange. The company closed in August 2025 citing "financial challenges and the current economic climate" as the reasoning behind their decision. [2]

Contents

Guild had competitive teams in titles including Fortnite , FC 25 , Sim Racing (Rennsport, iRacing), PUBG Mobile. In addition to its competitive teams, Guild operated as a creative agency with an in-house studio, delivering campaigns that help brands reach a gaming audience. Past collaborations include campaigns for the Wicked movie, Karate Kid Legends, and Wild Robot. Guild also ran a Women in Gaming initiative with Sky called The Lobby - a mission to create more opportunities for women in the gaming community. With the Sky Guild Gaming Centre at its core, The Lobby brings the opportunity to connect at live events, get creative in a studio facility, and compete for a prize pool of £50,000.

History

Guild Esports was incorporated on 3 September 2019 under the name The Lords eSports PLC. [3] The company launched publicly in 2020 and listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE), raising £20 million in its IPO. [4]

In 2022, Guild signed a 10-year lease on a 9,831 sq ft facility in Shoreditch, London, which became their official HQ and training facility. [5]

In 2024, Guild joined the Esports World Cup’s Club Support Program, receiving a stipend to expand into multiple titles. That same year, Guild acquired Encore and a stake in Ginx TV, further expanding its media presence.

In October 2024, Guild Esports was acquired by DCB Sports, a US-based sports group, transitioning from a publicly traded company to a private one.

Esports

Guild operated in eleven titles:

Guild won multiple major trophies across games, including the Fortnite Champion Series and the Rocket League EU Spring Regional. In March 2025, Guild won the inaugural Racing Prodigy P3 Championship in Sim Racing.

Sponsorships and Partnerships

Guild’s key partnership is with Sky Broadband, signed in 2022 and reportedly worth £2 million per year.

Former sponsors include:

Ownership and Media Assets

Guild Esports was fully owned by DCB Sports. In 2024, Guild acquired:

References

  1. ↑ "Guild Esports PLC overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". Companies House . 3 September 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  2. ↑ "Guild Esports". Guild Esports. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  3. ↑ Seck, Tobias (25 June 2020). "David Beckham Co-Owned Guild Esports Launches, Seeks $31M Investment". The Esports Observer. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  4. ↑ Shead, Sam (2 October 2020). "David Beckham-backed esports firm IPOs on London Stock Exchange". CNBC. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  5. ↑ Murray, Trent (20 January 2022). "Beckham-backed Guild Esports establishing London HQ". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
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