Norwegian organisation Riddle Esports have pulled out of the Northern League of Legends Championship (NLC), the EMEA Regional League for the UK, Ireland and Nordics.
They will instead be moving to Norway’s Telialigaen, and said they hope to ‘one day be able to return and compete at the highest level in EMEA on behalf of our region once again’.
The decision comes just a few weeks after they won the NLC Division 1 Spring 2023 Season, having finished top of the standings and beaten Verdant 3-0 in the NLC Spring 2023 playoffs final.
Riddle Esports posted a statement on social media yesterday evening announcing the news.
They said: “After careful analysis of the current state of the ecosystem we find ourselves in, we have determined that with the current plans and support for the NLC at this time, it no longer makes sense to continue participating, with the expectations we have for our club, of competing at the highest level.”
The community reacted with sadness and disappointment, and showed their respect to Riddle for their achievements in the region.
Some placed the blame on Freaks 4U Gaming, the operator made responsible for the NLC from 2022. Many were upset a year ago by the decision to close existing grassroots League of Legends leagues in the region. One year later, Leagues.gg was appointed operator of parts of the NLC.
Others will look at the wider state of esports. A once well-known name in the NLC, Tricked Esport, announced their closure a few days ago.
Riddle Esports are the latest in a long line of esports organisations that have departed the NLC divisions over the past year or two.
These include Excel Esports’ now-defunct academy team JD XL, MNM Gaming, Dusty, Astralis Talent, Tricked, LDN UTD, Fnatic Rising, Enclave Gaming, Kova, Nox, Nvision, Godsent, Galaxy Racer, Singularity, Granit Gaming, London Esports, Resolve, Nyyrikki, 00Nation, Bifrost, Ence and X7 Esports.
The news also comes after the NLC was downgraded to a non-accredited league in late 2022.
Opinion: Riddle Esports leaving the NLC after winning it is yet another reminder that something has to change
Esports News UK editor Dom Sacco offers his take on the latest piece of demoralising NLC-related news
I have tried for so long to remain positive and hopeful for the future of UK and Nordics League of Legends.
Through one disappointing announcement after another, I’ve remained mindful of using my small platform at Esports News UK as a supporting barrier to help promote the scene, shout about our success stories and present balanced coverage, avoiding the UK League of Legends drama of years past.
That’s not always possible, and I will call out bad actors and cover the difficult stories in pursuit of the truth, but I’d like to think my coverage has been more balanced.
But there comes a point where this blind faith can no longer stand up. It can no longer paper over the widening cracks.
The situation around the NLC in recent years has been nothing short of embarrassing.
The amount of orgs that have left, the non-accredited status and drop in financial stipends, the low perception of the league in comparison to Europe’s leading regions like France and Spain, the last-minute announcements and poor communication, the worrying things that have gone on behind-the-scenes, the closure of smaller third-party leagues and the later u-turn, and now this.
It’s not all exclusive to the NLC. There are issues elsewhere, with this tweet about Insomnia’s League of Legends finals opening up a wider debate.
Don’t get me wrong. Some people have really put their all into the NLC, and the production and talent have been excellent.
But for a top side like Riddle Esports to win the league, then depart soon after? That’s incredibly telling.
“Orgs don’t want to be a part of this ecosystem, leagues are stifled and those in the scene are frustrated. We don’t believe in its future. We’re resigned to the fact that UK League is dead and has been for a while. If esports is all about the community, then something needs to change.”
So what should this change be?
I don’t have all the answers. But I know that for a start, improved communication, management and longer-term plans for this league wouldn’t go amiss.
The UK is about to host one of the biggest tournaments in League of Legends esports in MSI London 2023. Our lower tier scene should be buoyed by this and excited to be a part of it somehow.
Instead, our best team is leaving our regional league because it doesn’t believe in the current state of its ecosystem.
‘It no longer makes sense to continue participating’ in the NLC, Riddle Esports said.
Make it make sense, Riot. The Nordics region produces talent and organisations in your game with great potential, but right now they don’t want to be a part of it.
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
