ISLE OF MAN GOV’T SPONSORS X7, ISLAND’S FIRST PRO ESPORTS ORGANISATION

The Isle of Man Government has announced its sponsorship of X7, the island’s first professional esports organisation, underlining its long-term commitment to the emerging industry. 

X7, which was founded in December 2020 and currently fields a roster in League of Legends, is now being supported by Digital Isle of Man, part of the IoM Government’s Department for Enterprise. 

X7 made its debut during the League of Legends United Kingdom Esports League (UKEL) Summer Open Qualifiers, where they produced a flawless set of results with 10 wins and 0 losses. The organisation says it is now focused on attracting and supporting exceptional talent from across the world, and has plans to expand into more titles and make an impact in both the UK and further afield. 

Commenting on the sponsorship and sector more broadly, Chris Kissack, Digital Isle of Man’s Head of esports, said: “Esports is a fast-growing industry on the Isle of Man, and we are delighted to be able to support X7 on their journey. As the Island’s first professional esports Org competing in a recognised tournament within the industry. It is a very exciting opportunity and demonstrates that the Isle of Man is well-placed to support other such initiatives looking to grow and develop.

‘We continue to show and prove our authenticity and passion for growing esports on the Isle of Man and powering X7 to help them on their journey to compete at the highest level is another example of this. We hope they are the first of many Orgs with Isle of Man connections, whether that’s recruiting future Isle of Man stars or basing themselves here, and we will support them every step of the way.’

Josh Kingett, Founder of X7 Esports, added: “The Isle of Man has a lot to offer in terms of supportive structures and security, and they have already proven this with traditional sports and local companies. Getting involved with esports at such a pivotal time is a good move for the Isle of Man. It’s also great to see the Island continuing to support grassroot initiatives and those wanting to make a name for themselves in this space.”

In addition to lead sponsorship from Digital Isle of Man, Amber Gaming have also partnered with X7 and are supporting them to scale their brand through the provision of consultancy and professional services, including corporate and accountancy services delivered through their group of companies.

Jade Zorab, Managing Director, Amber Gaming, commented: “The team at Amber Gaming have long been invested in the esports space. As this arena evolves, the growth of professional esports Org owners like X7 is going to be stratospheric so it is important that time is taken now to ensure that they have a robust structure and governance framework in place and are planning with protection, scalability and security in mind.”