German poker pro Fedor Holz has used some of his $26 million in tournament winnings to buy a piece of eSports outfit, Envy Gaming, Inc.
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Fedor Holz sinks some of his bankroll into leading eSports brand, Envy Gaming, Inc. (Image: World Poker Tour)
The ever-growing number of links between poker and eSports has seen a number of businesses join forces in recent months, but Holz is the first player to make his financial commitment public.
Interest in Envy Gaming, Inc. and its two eSports teams, Dallas Fuel and Team Envy, was born out of a friendship with pro player Nathan Schmitt.
Friendship Leads to Investment
Schmitt is a French professional Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and eventually introduced Holz to Envy CEO, Mike Rufail. The relationship developed from there, with Holz going on to wear a Team Envy jersey during his final table appearance in the 2016 WSOP Big One for One Drop.
From this, Holz eventually decided to invest some of his poker winnings in the company and become a minority shareholder. Diversifying his portfolio of interests is something that Holz has been doing for the last few years.
As well as his recent investment in the eSports world, the German pro has an interest in cryptocurrencies as well as his mentoring business, Primed Mind. Alongside well-respected names in other industries, such as Schmitt in gaming and Duane Ludwig from the sport of MMA, Holz has created an app to help people develop the mindset of a winner.
His latest venture, however, is one that taps into the growing convergence between poker and eSports. Today, brands such as PokerStars, the World Poker Tour and the Global Poker League have all found alliances and partnerships with leading eSports operators.
A Good Deal for Everyone
For Holz, his stake in Envy will not only give him another financial asset, but the chance to acquire new skills and contacts within the industry. For poker as a whole, the deal is another link that could bring new talent and fans to the game.
As it stands, the poker industry is currently working to attract new players in two ways. In the first instance, poker operators are looking to bring casual bettors who enjoy casino games into the mix. Beyond that, there is a desire to use the “digital gaming” elements of online poker to attract eSports enthusiasts.
Through these two avenues, poker sites are trying to increase traffic. So, while Holz’s investment is a self-serving move, it does help to solidify the connection between poker and eSports.
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