The Turkish team İstanbul Wildcats (IW) is set to exit the Turkish Championship League (TCL) and withdraw from LoL Esports, according to sources close to Sheep Esports.
Champions of Türkiye
IW was founded in 2008 under the name of HWA Gaming, although the team rebranded to İstanbul Wildcats (IW) for sponsorship reasons in 2019. This long-lasting organization has been able to lift the Turkish trophy countless times throughout the years. Therefore, IW has also had the opportunity to represent their region on multiple occasions at the international stage, for instance; 2022 Worlds, 2021 MSI and 2022 MSI.
Having players like veteran Anıl “HolyPhoenix” Işık or İrfan Berk "Armut" Tükek under its line-up, İstanbul Wildcats has been closely followed by many fans and has been an important part of the Turkish competitive scene.
Istanbul Wildcats pose at the League of Legends World Championship Play-Ins 2022
After the creation of the EMEA region in 2023, the TCL lost its direct qualifying spot for international events, and became part of the European ERL scene, conquering it quickly. IW had a successful season in 2023 and adapted quickly to the new environment, securing 1st place in both Winter and Summer splits of the TCL.
This earned them qualification for the EMEA Masters Spring and Summer events. In Spring, with the first ever participation of the TCL in the EMEA Masters, IW proclaimed themselves champions with a 3-2 victory over Unicorns of Love.
While the organization's run sadly comes to an end here, the current TCL champions have built their own legacy and have been able to showcase through talent and hard work what the Turkish scene has to offer, both domestically as well as internationally.
Editorial Note
Former Jungler Taha "Elramir" Yurdagüven commented on the story via Twitter:
It's a decision that saddens me, but I believe it's justified. They chose not to build a roster just for the sake of it, unlike other teams. Considering the available Turkish players, they decided not to participate because they knew they wouldn't be able to form a squad that could be successful in the EMEA Masters this late. Nevertheless, it's disheartening that it has come to this.
