PCS team Ground Zero Gaming has been selected by Riot Games to occupy the final slot in the LCP next season. The position had remained vacant following PSG TALON’s departure from the league due to financial difficulties.

Active in the scene for three years, the Australian organization had previously competed in the LCO before opting to move into the PCS ecosystem. It is under the PCS residency that Ground Zero Gaming will participate in the competition. The team announced that further details would be shared in the coming days, particularly regarding roster updates and information about upcoming matches.

“Being selected for the LCP is a huge milestone for Ground Zero Gaming and for our fans,” said Beau Melia, founder and CEO of Ground Zero Gaming, in a statement released after Riot Games’ announcement. The organization was officially confirmed on Monday as the final invited team to join the LCP.

Riot Games also clarified that the Australian organization will be considered an LCP team and must comply with roster regulations by fielding players from the region. “GZ will represent the Pacific Championship Series (PCS) as its home region, and as per LCP Roster Policy, they will be required to have players from the PCS region.”

A Heavy Pressure on their Shoulders

Last month, the LCP announced that PSG Talon would no longer be part of the league next season. Despite qualifying for Worlds and maintaining a long-standing presence at the top level of the region in recent years, the organization was no longer able to sustain itself financially within the ecosystem. Ground Zero Gaming will therefore take their place, despite finishing bottom of the league four splits (seventh in Summer 2024 as well as across all three splits in 2025).

While the team won the LCO twice in 2024, they had struggled to find similar success in PCS, securing only four best-of-three victories this season. Their position was even under threat following Split 1, before the organization managed to retain its spot through the Ascension tournament. This year, Ground Zero Gaming will face the considerable challenge of replacing TALON and the legacy it leaves behind in the league.