Changes Ahead for North American Challenger League
During the ongoing MSI tournament, Riot Games made a significant announcement on May 12. They confirmed that the requirement for each LCS team to have a North American Challenger League (NACL) roster is no longer mandatory. This decision has led the majority of LCS teams to pull out of the academy project, which is a blow to the development of North American League talent.
Each of the ten LCS organizations had to make a decision to stay or depart from the NACL after Riot’s announcement. Only three out of the ten teams have chosen to remain in the league, and this decision will have lasting consequences for the region’s future.
Which Teams Are Staying?
The three teams that have committed to the NACL for the summer of 2023 are Team Liquid, Evil Geniuses, and FlyQuest. The remaining seven teams—TSM, Immortals, Golden Guardians, Dignitas, NRG, Cloud9, and 100 Thieves—have decided to immediately leave the program.
TSM was the first team to depart from the NACL on May 12. This move wasn’t surprising, as there had been reports of TSM making cuts to their League division.
Dignitas, the runner-ups in the NACL spring split, will also be leaving the league before the summer split. They had an impressive showing in their first NACL outing, showcasing the talents of David “Insanity” Challe and Trevor “Spawn” Kerr-Taylor.
Golden Guardians, despite announcing a three-year plan to revitalize the NA talent pipeline, is disappointing many by quitting the NACL just six months after the announcement. The team represented the NA region at MSI this year and showcased homegrown talent like Licorice and Stixxay, who both spent time in the Academy circuit.
Cloud9, another team with success in the NACL, will also step away from the developmental league. The decision is concerning for the future of the scene since Cloud9’s owner, Jack Etienne, has been one of the biggest voices in the NA League space.
Teams Committed to Developing Talent
On the other hand, FlyQuest, Evil Geniuses, and Team Liquid have decided to stay in the NACL and are doubling down on their commitment to fostering North American talent. FlyQuest released a video message from their president, Chris “PapaSmithy” Smith, confirming their organization’s return to the Challengers League.
Evil Geniuses and Team Liquid also released videos explaining why they have chosen to remain in the NACL. Team Liquid CEO Steve Arhancet addressed the need for improvement in development leagues and shared the costs associated with running NACL rosters in person from California. The insights given by these organizations shed light on the finances and challenges faced by the top teams in North America.
Uncertain Future and Fewer Teams
Grimly, there are currently only seven teams scheduled to participate in the 2023 Summer Split of the NACL. This is the lowest number of teams the developmental league has had in years. The lack of news from Riot about the return of the “academy requirement” for 2024 casts further doubt on the future of the amateur scene.
As the Summer Split approaches, there is still no word from Riot about promoting more amateur organizations to field additional slots for the upcoming split. It has been common in the past for the LCS Academy league to have fewer teams than initially advertised. Additionally, the requirement for in-person play in California makes it challenging for amateur organizations to field rosters and relocate everyone with just a few weeks’ notice.
The LCS Summer Split is set to begin on June 1, but the future of the NACL remains uncertain.
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