CPH Flames shut down operations: The past 6-9 months have been absolutely horrendous
One more esports organization has been forced to close down shop.
The Danish esports organization Copenhagen Flames has filed for bankruptcy, putting an end to an esports endeavour that started back in 2016. Failing to find enough funding to run the organization, is the reason why CPH Flames has been forced to cease operations according to a statement by CEO, Steffen Thomsen.
- Last week, on Friday, I filed for the bankruptcy of Copenhagen Flames and terminated all personnel, as we have been unable to find funding for our club going forward. For the past 6 months we have worked tirelessly to avoid this outcome but unfortunately we have failed. And for that I am deeply sorry. In the end it is my responsibility and I feel like absolute shit that it has come to this.
Tough period
Financial problems among esports organizations is by now a common thing as we see more and more organizations close down shop. Something, Steffen Thomsen also mentions in his statement.
- It is no secret that esports clubs have been and are struggling financially and especially the past 6-9 months have been absolutely horrendous for us in terms of securing partnerships of any kind. Both in terms of extending already existing ones as well as gaining new ones, Thomsen explains as he continues to talk about the consequences of not qualifying for two consecutive Majors.
- Missing out on the past two Majors hurt us as well as we set a goal of going to at least one Major each year. To secure income but also for the brand recognition, exposure, player sales and the gains in followers across all social media platforms. And again we know the risk of this approach, you can’t count on results in sports and we have always been looking to build a club which was independent of sporting income.
Talent factory
With Copenhagen Flames shutting down, the Danish Counter-Strike scene loses one of its biggest contributors of CS:GO talents. Profiled names such as Nico "nicoodoz" Tamjidi, G2’s current IGL Rasmus “HooXi” Nielsen, Jakob “jabbi” Nygaard, and many more have all been through Flames in their career.
Copenhagen Flames had the following CS:GO players in their personnel before filing for bankruptcy:
Thomas "birdfromsky" Due-Frederiksen
Rasmus "raalz" Steensborg
Johannes "b0RUP" Borup
Thomas "TMB" Bundsbæk
Asger "Farlig" Jensen
Iulian "regali" Harjău (benched)
You can read the full statement by Steffen Thomsen here.