Sheep Esports – Sources: SK Gaming to depart Berlin, LEC gamers to stay in Cologne

SK Gaming is ready to depart Berlin and centralize its operations in Cologne, Germany, subsequent 12 months, sources advised Sheep Esports — a transfer later confirmed by the group itself. The German membership, lively in League of Legends, beforehand maintained an workplace in Berlin for its LEC group. However, its headquarters have at all times been primarily based in Cologne. With this transfer, all LEC operations will now be centralized in Cologne, the place the group’s gamers will stay and observe. They will journey to Berlin on competitors weekends to play their stage matches.

With this transfer, SK Gaming will turn out to be the one group within the LEC 2026 with out participant amenities in Berlin. However, they received’t be the primary in LEC historical past to function this manner. From 2021 to 2023, Astralis — the Danish group competing within the league — housed its LEC gamers in Denmark, with the roster usually touring to Berlin for stage matches.

So far, SK Gaming has solely secured one LEC participant for 2026, Jungler Duncan “Skeanz” Marquet, who has been advised about this variation.

SK is without doubt one of the oldest esports organizations on the planet, based in 1997 by 4 brothers and three associates in Oberhausen across the sport Quake. Initially generally known as Schroet Kommando, the group later created a Counter-Strike roster and have become one of the vital profitable groups globally. Over time, SK Gaming expanded into different video games, together with League of Legends—making them one of many first organizations on the planet to take action—Valorant, and Clash Royale.

Alongside Fnatic, SK Gaming is without doubt one of the older League of Legends organizations nonetheless lively at present. Starting in 2010, the group has competed in LAN occasions and numerous tournaments. In 2012, they participated within the Season 2 World Championship however completed in final place. When the EU LCS launched in 2013, they have been, in fact, a part of it, and in 2014 they made their second—and finally final—look on the Worlds.

The group was subsequently relegated in 2015 after a tough 12 months within the EU LCS. In 2019, they returned to the LEC for the inception of franchising, shopping for their spot within the league from Riot Games. However, the group has by no means managed to qualify for a world occasion, with their greatest end being fourth place at Winter 2023. More lately, SK Gaming had a really difficult 12 months, inserting ninth in each Winter and Spring 2025 earlier than ending final of their group throughout Summer.

When contacted for remark by Sheep Esports, SK Gaming replied: “When SK moved into its brand-new Magenta Facility in Cologne, our vision was clear from the start: to bring all our teams home. Berlin was an incredible chapter a place full of memories – but at some point, we knew it was time to double down on our roots.“

“Cologne isn’t just where we’re based; it’s where we belong. It’s the home of gamescom, our community, and the beating heart of SK. With our 2,000 sqm flagship facility, we’ve built the perfect environment to nurture our players and give them everything they need to succeed. Every professional sports team travels for competition, and now, we’re ready to do the same- from the city that defines us. Liebe deine Stadt, as we say here in Köln.“