League of Legends Coach Banned from World Championships
League of Legends fans were disappointed to learn that Nicolaj ‘Incarnation’ Jensen, a coach for one of the top teams in Europe, would not be able to attend the upcoming world championships in October. Jensen, who was previously banned as a player, had been working as a coach for SK Gaming. This decision has caused controversy in the community.
Riot Confirms Most Popular Theory about the Ban is False
Many theories were thrown around by fans about the reason behind Jensen’s ban. However, Riot has confirmed that one of the most popular theories is false.
Jensen was suspended indefinitely from competitive play in January 2013 for “abusive” behavior and DDoSing opposing players. At that time, Riot did not officially recognize coaches, so Jensen continued to work for SK Gaming. But now, Riot has decided to officially recognize coaches and enforce Jensen’s ban from playing as a coach as well. This decision came just weeks before the start of the world championships.
Riot’s Decision Not Influenced by Location of the Event
One theory suggested that Riot’s sudden change in policy was due to the location of the world championships in Korea. It was claimed that Riot had to follow the guidelines of the Korean esports association, which recognizes coaches and would therefore ban Jensen. However, Riot has confirmed that the world championships will not be under KeSPA jurisdiction and that they are only collaborating with the Korean group for the event.
Riot’s decision to officially recognize coaches sets a precedent for future LCS seasons. However, it is not clear what this recognition will mean for current coaches. Will they receive compensation like players? Will they have to follow new rules? These questions remain unanswered.
For SK Gaming, this means they will have to rethink their coaching structure. Jensen will no longer be able to consult with the team backstage in the seasons to come.
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