NLC updates: Venomcrest and Lundqvist Lightside promoted to NLC Spring 2024 Division 1, Aurora Cup prepares to kick off, Ladder System details revealed
Dom Sacco, Senior Editor
Last Updated: 18/06/2025
There’s been a host of developments in the Northern League of Legends Championship (NLC) over the past week, including two teams promoting to NLC Spring 2024.
Div 2 winners Venomcrest join Lundqvist Lightside in NLC Spring 2024 Div 1
The NLC 2024 Promotion tournament concluded last week, and UK esports organisation Venomcrest and Swedish org Lunqvist Lightside progressed to make it through to Division 1 NLC Spring 2024.
Lundqvist beat Div 2 Summer Season winners Venomcrest 3-1 in round one and UniQ 3-0 in round two to progress, while Venomcrest beat UniQ 3-2 to book their arrival in Division 1 next year.
The news comes a few weeks after fellow UK org Fourth Wall were forced to withdraw from NLC Division 1 Promotion/Relegation tournament.
Venomcrest said in the below post they were ‘insanely proud’ to hit their goal and move up to NLC Spring 2024 Division 1, while Lundqvist’s French ADC Nitjit said he couldn’t be more happy with his first competitive split.
🎉VENOMCREST DIVISION 1 2024🎉
— Venomcrest (@VNC_Esports) September 18, 2023
People asked for a banger end to the promotion tournament and both us and @uniq_club provided!
And with this we move to Division 1 in 2024, our goal, our aim has been met. We are insanely proud to represent our region at the higher level next… pic.twitter.com/SGx5VOJFNl
We just promoted to NLC1 after two amazing series ! I couldnt be more happy with my first competitive split, it was a wholesome experience and it helped me to improve as a player so much. I fucking love my team and the staff !
— Nitjit (@Nitjit_) September 14, 2023
The promotion tournament results mean that it looks like the Div 1 teams for NLC Spring 2024 will be DMG Esports, Nativz, Nord Esports, Ruddy Esports, Vanir, Verdant, Venomcrest and Lundqvist Lightside.
The news of course comes over a month after Irish org Nativz won the NLC 2023 Summer Playoffs.
UK org JLingz Esports to play in NLC Div 2 for 2024
Looking below Div 1, and it was footballer Jesse Lingard’s UK esports organisation JLingz Esports (who formed two years ago) that made it to Div 2, along with Nordic roster Gran Turismo.
They beat the likes of Anima and Invulnerables Esports in the NLC 2nd Division 2024 Spring Promotion tournament last month.
🎉 Proud to announce that our League of Legends team has leveled up! 🚀
— JLINGZ Esports (@JLINGZesports) August 22, 2023
We’re excited to compete in the NLC Division 2.
Thanks to our incredible fans for the support – this is just the beginning! 🔥🎮 #Jlingzesports #EsportsElevation #NLCDivision2 pic.twitter.com/rChYuizmtQ
2023 NLC Aurora Cup teams, format, dates and more announced, as tournament gets ‘fearless’ drafts
Last week, the 2023 Aurora Cup was announced, including key details such as those taking part.
The Aurora Cup, first introduced in 2022, allows teams from several NLC divisions to compete against one another in a knockout tournament.
The play-in stage starts this week (Monday September 25th 2023), with the groups confirmed as below:
🌟2023 Aurora Cup Play-In Groups🌟
— Arozzi NLC (@NLClol) September 23, 2023
We are ready to kick off the Aurora Cup on Monday, starting with the play-in stage❗️
Here are the groups that will be fighting to advance to the group stage👇 pic.twitter.com/VVS6XQHHdH
After the play-ins will be the group stage (starting October 2nd), which is introducing a ‘fearless’ draft (like the one used in Iberian Cup), meaning once a specific champion has been picked by a team, that team cannot pick the same champion again throughout the rest of the series.
NLC organisers said: “We hope that this will help spice up the games and add a wider variety in picks throughout the tournament.”
Then there will be the playoffs stage (from October 16th), with eight teams playing in a single-elimination bracket with best-of-five matches.
The 2023 Aurora Cup grand final will take place on November 8th.
Community streamers for the cup were also announced:
🌟2023 NLC Aurora Cup Community Streams🌟
— Arozzi NLC (@NLClol) September 25, 2023
We are happy to announce the community streams for the play-in stage, all starting tonight with lots of action!
Check out the eight streamers and make sure to tune in for their first streams from 18:00 CEST👇 pic.twitter.com/yT3MdvW5Ri
NLC Ladder System details revealed
Back in July 2023, it was announced that LoL National Leagues for the UK and Nordics would be returning, including the UK’s UKEL and four others. NLC also dissolved Divisions 3 and 4.
If a team doesn’t have a 3/5 majority of players from a specific region, it won’t be possible to join a national league. However, the NLC Ladder is an option as it only requires three players from the NLC region as a whole.
Teams be able to compete with teams from other regions through the new NLC Regional Promotion Series (NLC RPS) that is accessed via a national league’s Division 1, Division 2 and the NLC Ladder.
Now, the Autumn Split NLC ladder system has been created and is ready to be used.
Organisers Leagues.gg said: “For the Autumn Split, the ladder will open up to teams across the Nordics, and act as a second gateway into the first ever NLC RPS. Teams that are already competing in the respective national leagues are invited to join the ladder to play games on the side, and see who will end at the top by the end of the split.
“Players join the ladder as a team, and will be able to climb by playing other teams on the ladder throughout the split. Teams can join at any time during the duration of the split, and can play as frequently as they want.”
The ladder starts on September 28th and ends on November 8th.
There are full details in the post below:
📢The NLC Ladder is ready to open
— Arozzi NLC (@NLClol) September 22, 2023
The wait has been long since we announced the NLC Ladder system back in July, but now we are finally ready to open for the first time!
Starting with the Autumn Split Ladder👇
Read more➡️https://t.co/OKfi21qiQz
Sign up➡️https://t.co/NfHwzxdSN5 pic.twitter.com/UAUREKUGTi
Must-Read Casino & Betting Guides
Check out our featured gaming guides to find top UK casinos, no verification sites, fast withdrawal platforms, and more.
- UK Best Online Casinos for 2025
- Best Bookmakers 2025
- Esports Betting Sites
- Best Non Gamstop Casinos
- No KYC Casinos UK
Dom Sacco, Senior Editor
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He has almost two decades of experience in journalism, and left Esports News UK in June 2025. 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 also previously worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation.
Stay Updated with the Latest News
Get the most important stories delivered straight to your Google News feed — timely and reliable
From breaking news and in-depth match analysis to exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes content, we bring you the stories that shape the esports scene.
Monthly Visitors
User Satisfaction
Years experience