In an article examining the recent retreat by sponsors and the financial situation, Spiegel.de has uncovered news that is sure to be discouraging to many an eSport player.

With the recent news about the Samsung Euro Championship no longer taking place at CeBIT, but another location, it looks as though the WCG has lost AMD as a sponsor, as well as SK Gaming.

AMD spokeswoman Friederike Gonzalez is quoted as saying, "due to the economic situation, all larger eSports sponsorships will end this year. Among them the World Cyber Games, as well as the contract with the German clan SK Gaming."

Co-Managing director of SK, Alexander Mueller, is also quoted in the article, citing that "we knew for a long time, and are searching for new partners."

AMD had made news earlier in December with their ceasing of sponsorship with mTw. It has been a hard year for the manufacturer and many expected more moves from them.

Also examined in the article, the issue of player salaries being cut, specifically with WarCraft III players, and speaking with mTw's PR manager, Sebastian Conrad.

Conrad explains that "we approach old times, where it was normal to pay 500 to 600 euros in the month for a good Warcraft 3 player." Whereas they recently were paying "from 1000 to 2000 euros, in addition to traveling expenses that came for flights to China or Dubai."

The article doesn't end well, as Spiegel.de also speaks with the spokesman for Intel Germany, Hans-Jürgen Werner.

"We pursue a long-term strategy as a main sponsor and the long partnership with the ESL," he explains.

However, Spiegel.de also reports that Werner divulges that Intel will reassess their position after CeBIT, leaving open the possibility that they might move as well.

With odds expected to be low for an Intel return to the space, Werner explains that "I can neither confirm nor deny" that information.

With two major portions of eSports, being WCG and SK, losing their sponsors, only time will tell if eSports will suffer more corporate losses in 2009.

UPDATE: GotFrag has spoken with sources with the ESL that suggest the situation is not presented entirely correct in the article. ESL will issue a statement rectifying the truth in the story at a later time.

Source: spiegel.de