Effective immediately, the league will be known as the ESL WC3L Series. The Electronic Sports League helps the WC3L staff to focus on their core competence - running a quality online gaming league - by providing its marketing capabilities and ESL's sophisticated league system as technical platform. Furthermore the Electronic Sports League will regularely broadcast WC3L matches over its video streaming service ESL-TV, complementary to the usual shoutcast and news coverages.

"The WC3L is probably the most well known and respected Warcraft III tournament worldwide," said Jens Hilgers, CEO of Turtle Entertainment. "By integrating this league into the Electronic Sports League as the 'ESL WC3L Series' we want to push it even more towards professionalism. Together with the very ambitious WC3L team we will ensure prize money as well as offline finals for each season of the ESL WC3L Series."

Sebastian "Baschi" Weishaar, supervisor of the WC3L added, "This partnership with the Electronic Sports League is a major step for the WC3L. With their marketing and technical support, ESL-TV coverages and of course the price money, the WC3L will enter a new level of professionalism. We are looking forward to a great ESL WC3L Series Season 5.

Season 5 of the ESL WC3L Series starts next Thursday, March 18 2004. Twelve teams from six nations will be competing in eleven playdays for a place in the playoffs. It will be concluded by the grand final which will be held at a befitting location. The prize money of not less than 2500€ will be distributed to the two final competitors.