Sources: ZYB Esports joins LFL as guest, TLN Pirates secure permanent slot

As Skillcamp and TLN Pirates have both qualified for the LFL for the remainder of the year following the LFL Invitational, a third spot in the league has opened up. Indeed, as reported by Sheep Esports on Saturday, BK ROG Esports’ spot in the LFL has been put into question following years of delayed payments.

However, there is a significant difference between BK ROG’s spot in the LFL and the two guest spots awarded to the best performers from the LFL Invitational. The BK ROG spot is permanent, which also grants access to higher revenue-sharing rewards from the league.

Initially, TLN Pirates were awarded one of the guest spots, with Skillcamp receiving the second after French Flair declined the opportunity. According to sources, French Flair declined for various reasons related to its players and project plans, but in a context of lower revenue sharing associated with a guest spot.

Several days later, as BK ROG’s permanent spot required a new organization, both French Flair and TLN Pirates were offered the position of permanent spot.

Due to complications among current LFL partners regarding French Flair’s potential inclusion, particularly concerns about allocating them a significant share of the league’s revenue for permanent partners, teams and Webedia ultimately chose TLN Pirates to take over BK ROG Esports’ permanent slot.

Initially, BK ROG’s staff and players had hoped to find a new organization willing to take over their roster, but these efforts were unsuccessful. In the end, the spot was transferred to TLN Pirates, who will be allowed to field their own roster. However, since TLN Pirates had originally been offered a guest spot, their promotion to a permanent partner created a new vacancy.

This final guest spot was then offered to another LFL Invitational participant: Lille Esports or ZYB Esports. According to the Invitational rankings, the spot should have gone to ZYB Esports. However, Lille Esports entered the discussions as negotiations between ZYB and the league had not yet reached an agreement, partly due to issues around streaming players’ POVs during official matches and other contractual details. In the end, on Wednesday, a deal was finalized, and the spot will be awarded to ZYB Esports, Nisqy’s team. Had ZYB declined the offer, Lille Esports would have taken the spot. As reported by RFT, Nisqy’s team is now set to join the LFL.

Note that all those changes are according to sources who have talked with Sheep Esports and might be pending Riot Games’ final approval.