Taipei, March 8 (CNA) The Taipei Assassins (TPA), an eSports team that gained fame after winning the "League of Legends" world championships in Los Angeles last October, has struck a title sponsorship deal with German game media company Azubu Europe AG.

TPA and its sister team the Taipei Snipers (TPS) will from now on be affiliated with Team Azubu and known as Azubu TPA and Azubu TPS, respectively, Garena Taiwan Co., which runs the two teams, announced Thursday.

Garena Chief Operating Officer Shirley Chou called it "an honor and a pleasure" to be able to work along with Azubu.

"I'm certain that Azubu TPA and Azubu TPS will grow prominently under the care and support of Azubu," Chou said at a ceremony unveiling the two teams' new logos.

The two companies "will provide all things necessary within (their) means to aid the Taiwanese pro-gaming teams to advance to the next level, and to perform their best in worldwide competitions," Chou said.

Speaking on the same occasion, Andy So, an Azubu representative, welcomed the additions of TPA and TPS to Team Azubu and said that with them, "Team Azubu will be reborn to be unsurpassed."

In the future, the two Taiwanese teams will perform under the names Azubu TPA and Azubu TPS and wear logos incorporating the Azubu mark at all official events.

Azubu TV will also begin airing Azubu TPA and Azubu TPS games, according to the new title sponsorship agreement.

Formed last year, TPA was lightly regarded when it entered the League of Legends World Championship Season 2 competition in Los Angeles.

But the unheralded team worked its way through the draw and defeated Azubu Frost of South Korea 3-1 in the championship showdown to win the US$1 million first prize.

(By Lin Hung-han and Sofia Wu)
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