Schalke have reached the EU LCS finals, where they will clash with Spring champions Fnatic after rebuilding from a first split relegation. While many football clubs chose to stay safe with FIFA, Schalke entered League of Legends esports and doubled down on their division despite early difficulties.
The club promoted the final to traditional sports fans at their home stadium, the Veltins-Arena. A trailer played on the big screens of the packed stadium before a Bundesliga match against Hertha Berlin, illustrating how the esports team overcame past struggles and aims to progress further.
Qualification paths for the World Championship
Schalke are now close to securing a place at the World Championships in Korea. Defeating Fnatic in the best-of-five series would allow Schalke to represent Europe as the top seed. If Schalke lose the final, they can still qualify automatically if Misfits defeat Vitality in the third place playoff.
If Misfits do not win that match, Schalke must compete in the regional gauntlet to claim the third and final seed. That route requires competing against G2 and Splyce, who are both seeking revenge.
Stadium promotion and football club performance
The League of Legends roster has previously engaged with fans at the Veltins-Arena. The players were presented before a Bundesliga match earlier this year and held a mini-bootcamp at the venue prior to the start of the EU LCS. Reaching the final marks the biggest esports achievement for Schalke, who also field a strong FIFA team.
It has been a successful year for football-owned esports teams overall. Paris Saint-Germain's DOTA 2 team, PSG.LGD, finished as runner-up in The International 8 and took home 4 million dollars, or 3.1 million pounds. However, Schalke's esports success contrasts with their football team, which has lost both of its opening matches this season, suffered a red card in each game, and missed a penalty against Hertha Berlin.