Sources: SK Gaming to depart Berlin, LEC players to live in Cologne

SK Gaming is set to leave Berlin and centralize its operations in Cologne, Germany, next year, sources told Sheep Esports — a move later confirmed by the organization itself. The German club, active in League of Legends, previously maintained an office in Berlin for its LEC team. However, its headquarters have always been based in Cologne. With this move, all LEC operations will now be centralized in Cologne, where the team’s players will live and practice. They will travel to Berlin on competition weekends to play their stage matches.

With this move, SK Gaming will become the only organization in the LEC 2026 without player facilities in Berlin. However, they won’t be the first in LEC history to operate this way. From 2021 to 2023, Astralis — the Danish organization competing in the league — housed its LEC players in Denmark, with the roster regularly traveling to Berlin for stage matches.

So far, SK Gaming has only secured one LEC player for 2026, Jungler Duncan "Skeanz" Marquet, who has been told about this change.

SK is one of the oldest esports organizations in the world, founded in 1997 by four brothers and three associates in Oberhausen around the game Quake. Initially known as Schroet Kommando, the team later created a Counter-Strike roster and became one of the most successful teams globally. Over time, SK Gaming expanded into other games, including League of Legends—making them one of the first organizations in the world to do so—Valorant, and Clash Royale.

Alongside Fnatic, SK Gaming is one of the older League of Legends organizations still active today. Starting in 2010, the team has competed in LAN events and various tournaments. In 2012, they participated in the Season 2 World Championship but finished in last place. When the EU LCS launched in 2013, they were, of course, part of it, and in 2014 they made their second—and ultimately last—appearance at the Worlds.

The team was subsequently relegated in 2015 after a difficult year in the EU LCS. In 2019, they returned to the LEC for the inception of franchising, buying their spot in the league from Riot Games. However, the team has never managed to qualify for an international event, with their best finish being fourth place at Winter 2023. More recently, SK Gaming had a very challenging year, placing ninth in both Winter and Spring 2025 before finishing last in their group during Summer.

When contacted for comment 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."