Karmine Corp will remain in the
VCT EMEA league next season. According to sources close to
Sheep Esports, the French organization will be one of the eight partner teams in the European region for the upcoming season. The club will therefore retain its partnership status, having joined the league alongside the original ten teams in 2023.
Over the four years of the partnership program, Karmine Corp's journey has been marked by considerable highs and lows, with rosters that have sometimes struggled significantly but also managed to secure two titles. Reflecting these fluctuating fortunes, the French organization is the most recent team to have won the Stage 2 competition this year. However, that achievement came after a disastrous start to the season, during which the team managed just one win at Kickoff before failing to secure a single victory in Stage 1.
A roster already taking shape for next year
Karmine Corp have already laid solid foundations for next season's roster. With the exception of Dmitrii "
SUYGETSU" Iliushin and head coach Ahmed "
ZE1SH" Sheikh, whose contracts expire at the end of this season, every member of the current lineup is signed through 2027. Earlier this season, the team announced an extension for its in-game leader, Hazem "
avez" Khaled, while the other players, apart from Marshall "
N4RRATE" Massey, who joined after Kickoff, have been part of the roster since late last year.
However, this lineup could face challenges under Riot Games' new regulations in the longer term. The roster currently features only two European players, falling short of the minimum of three required by Riot Games. As a former partner team, KC may benefit from an exemption allowing them to retain their current lineup for next season. From 2028 onwards, however, the organization will likely have to part ways with one of its imports, whether that be N4RRATE, an American player; Hazem "avez" Khaled, who represents the MENA region; or Burak "LĂȘwN" Alkan, from Turkey.
In any case, having just been crowned regional champions, Karmine Corp will be determined to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past and build on a roster in which the organization appears to have considerable faith. However, in their first-ever Champions appearance this season, the team were eliminated in the group stage after losing to NRG and then Nongshim RedForce in the decisive match.
