Global football powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) made their foray into esports in late 2018, ultimately partnering with the Chinese team LGD. However, fans might be surprised to find out that OG and Ceb, the legendary Dota 2 team, was who PSG first wanted. This is especially interesting for fans as the drama about OG’s ex-carry player Yuragi is still in heat.
In a recent interview, OG co-founder Sébastien “Ceb” Debs revealed the inside story of this almost collaboration and why it never happened.
Ceb About Esports: The Business Beneath the Surface
While fans might be most familiar with the players and thrilling competitions of Dota 2, a crucial aspect of the industry remains largely out of sight: the business side. This is the world of sponsorship deals, player management, and the constant pressure for teams to generate profit to retain top talent.
As both a player and co-founder of OG, Ceb admits that this business aspect remains one of his biggest challenges within the fast-paced esports world.
PSG Eyes Esports: An Opportunity Missed
When PSG decided to enter the esports scene, their eyes turned towards OG. This was around 2018, widely considered a “golden era” for esports growth. As a fan, Ceb was initially excited about the potential partnership.
However, the deal ultimately fell apart, with Ceb stating,
“I was always been a big fan of PSG. Esports was kinda small, so a brand like PSG looking at esports and talking to us as OG. I was like what is going on? This was the golden era of esports. Then, it didn’t happen for various reasons.”
Ceb: Clash of Values
Ceb sheds light on a key factor: PSG, while a giant in traditional sports, initially underestimated the scale and potential of esports. Their approach suggested a mindset of a large organization helping out a smaller esports team. Conversely, OG firmly believed in the burgeoning esports landscape and weren’t simply seeking a helping hand.
Independence and Growth with Ceb
Crucially, OG’s values and vision potentially clashed with what a PSG partnership would entail.
As Ceb explains,
“[I] would be super proud to be associated with PSG, but in a sense, we would have not been able to build things how we build them. Different values, mostly different weights because they knew businesses a billion times better, so they would have had a lot of weight, and we wanted to keep more independency in our views.”
The Paths That Followed
Later that same year, OG endured a tumultuous path to The International 2018. Ironically, this was the same event where PSG debuted their partnership with LGD. The two teams clashed in an epic Grand Finals, where OG cemented their place in esports history.
Their subsequent back-to-back TI victories demonstrated their ability to achieve tremendous success under their own management.
The Enduring Question
While PSG has since had several esports partnerships, the near-collaboration with OG leaves a lingering “what if?” Did PSG miss an opportunity with a team that went on to make esports history? Would OG’s trajectory have been drastically different?
Ceb’s revelations offer a fascinating look inside the world of esports business and a reminder of the importance of vision and values within a rapidly growing industry.
