Riot Games confirmed that the NLC, the main League of Legends league for the UK, Ireland and Nordic region, is currently without a tournament organiser. The company that ran the league, League ApS, told Riot it is no longer in a position to operate the competition.

Riot reacts and promises a plan

Riot said it is actively assessing the situation and working out next steps to keep the competition stable. The company has asked for patience and said more details about the Spring Split and the way forward will be shared before the season starts at the end of March.

For context, NLC champions Verdant are still playing in the EMEA Masters Winter Playoffs and could qualify for this years Esports World Cup. Their continental chances remain separate from the local league uncertainty.

What went wrong at the NLC

Short answer: a messy mix of finances, management choices, and a big drop in audience.

  • Financial trouble and invoices - League ApS said it failed to secure extra funding and admitted there were late payments. The company promised to resolve outstanding invoices but indicated it would decline certain late fees.
  • Allegations from staff - There were public complaints about late payments and unpaid invoices from people who worked on NLC events. That contributed to the organisers decision to step back.
  • Big events, big costs - Last year the league rode a wave of popularity. Los Ratones, the team formed by streamer Marc Caedrel Lamont, helped push viewership into record territory. The organisers staged arena shows in cities like Nottingham, Copenhagen and Stockholm, held fan expos, and even booked a K-pop performance. Those productions were ambitious and costly.
  • Staff and format changes - The league faced criticism for dismissing experienced broadcast figures such as Jake 'Hiprain' Matthews and Georgia 'Troubleinc' Parasand. It also shifted toward a content-first format. Several content creators entered teams - including Dumbs, Tim 'Sloppy Walrus' Mager, and Maksymilian 'Drututt' Przychodzien - and new 'wildcards' rules allowed team rosters to bring in former pros as temporary swaps.
  • Audience collapse - The changes did not keep viewers. According to tracking services, hours watched and peak viewership fell dramatically this season. Last winter the NLC had a peak audience above 360,000 and more than 4 million hours watched. This year the league recorded about 224,000 hours watched and a peak audience a bit over 32,000.

Where things stand now

With League ApS stepping away, the Spring Split scheduled for later this month is in doubt. Riot is evaluating options to preserve competitive continuity, but teams, players and fans are left waiting for specifics.

Expect announcements before the split start date. In the meantime, the NLC situation is a reminder that putting on big live shows and chasing hype can strain the budget when income and planning do not line up.

If you follow the league, keep an eye out for Riots updates and for any organiser or schedule changes. This story is likely to affect teams, talent, and the regions spot in wider EMEA competition.