After a short hiatus, Nvidia and the ESWC forged a new, seemingly more collaborative, relationship in 2008, culminating with the ESWC global final being moved from its birthplace of France to San Jose, California for the Nvision expo. This new partnership seems to have come to an abrupt end.

The 2008 ESWC grand final could be described as lackluster in terms of foot traffic, afterwards it became apparent Nvidia insignia, a centerpiece of most ESWC events, was omitted from the Masters of Athens event.

Nvidia logos and insignia have since been removed from the ESWC website.



This photo was taken in October at the ESWC Masters of Athens event, note the lack of Nvidia insignia on the check.

It's not yet clear why the two companies have parted ways, nor is it likely to be. Nvidia has slowly but surely been lessening the companies financial involvement within the e-sport market over the past year or so, the ESWC seems to be just another expenditure cut loose.

The ESWC's grand finals prize allowance has fluctuated quite sporadically throughout the years, though seemed to have stagnated over the past few events.

The ESWC is yet to announce a replacement sponsor, while the full effects of this event on the 2009 finals, or the remaining Masters events, is not yet know, it has been confirmed the 2009 finals will be moved back to France.

Mathew Dallon, President and founded of the ESWC, told SK Gaming in an email, "Yes, NVIDIA's logo has been removed from our online headers because NVIDIA, to date, will no longer be the ESWC worldwide and main sponsor for 2009."

However, that shouldn't suggest Nvidia and the ESWC's relationship is dead and buried, "...NVIDIA will choose locally to support, or not, some ESWC preliminaries. We are also actually discussing of their support of the next ESWC Grand Final that will be organized end of June in Paris," as he explains.

As might have been expected, Dallon explains why Nvidia has been tightening the belt, "This is not a secret that all the industries, and notably the ones which traditionally support E-sports, are right now dealing with a global crisis."

"ESWC, as many other projects in sports, entertainment or culture, will be affected and that is not good news. But as pioneer, we have the chance to have an unmatchable experience of those difficulties! So we are confident."