- Private investors have acquired Australian organization Tainted Minds.
- The organization will rebrand itself as ICON Esports.
- ICON Esports’ sponsors include Turtle Beach and Scuf Gaming.
Australian esports organization Tainted Minds has been acquired by a number of private investors and will rebrand itself to ICON Esports as a result.
Some of those investors come from within and around the traditional sports industry, including Highlanders Super Rugby chairman Raymond Burke, QMS Sport CEO Edward Abbot, and Ticketdirect founder and CEO Mathew Davey. Tainted Minds also noted a pair of investors from the world of finance: Nathan Taylor, managing director for capital markets at Commonwealth Bank, and Pinnacle Investment Management executive director Adrian Whittingham.
ICON Esports will move its headquarters to Sydney, and maintain management across Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Adelaide. Founded in 2015, Tainted Minds currently competes in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive 
, PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS (PUBG), Rocket League , and Fortnite , and recently departed Call of Duty .
“The new ownership group has a strong track record in building businesses and is committed to the strategy and vision of ICON,” said Whittingham in a release. “We have seen outstanding brands such as Cloud9
and [Team] Liquid
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ICON Esports plans to help spread awareness and interest in esports throughout Australia via events and activations through its ICONCreative initiative. Prior to the acquisition, Tainted Minds held the first such activation at trampoline park Skyzone Miranda, helping to educate children and their parents on possible esports careers. ICON’s release mentions that partners have been enlisted for the program.
The ICON Esports jersey features a prominent Turtle Beach logo on the front. ICON Esports’ other sponsors include peripheral maker Scuf Gaming , gaming chair company ZQRacing, and Australian restaurant chain Ribs & Burgers.
