Sources: KRC Genk Esports Departs ESLOL, Citing Lackluster Investment Returns

Former Elite Series (ESLOL) champions KRC Genk Esports are set to exit the League of Legends scene after finishing last in the league with a cumulative score of 0-14 during the summer season. According to sources from Sheep Esports, the organization announced its departure through private channels of the league's management, in which Esports Coordinator Alexander "ADUMON" Dumon cited financial reasons as the primary factor behind the decision.

Sources report that Dynasty will reclaim the spot previously held by KRC Genk Esports, thus avoiding the league's relegation tournament. Instead of the usual "Up and Down" tournament, four teams from the Elite Series 2nd Division will compete for the vacant spot, leading to a one-way promotion for 2025.

Five-time EMEA Masters attendees and three-time ESLOL champions, GENK is set to exit the scene in a bittersweet manner. Despite enduring its most challenging split to date, GENK remains one of the most respected organizations in the Benelux, making their departure a significant loss for the region. With the exits of legendary teams like LowLandLions, KVM Esports, The Agency, and others, one must wonder: will the Benelux ever achieve stability and sustainability?

Sources indicate that the primary reasons for GENK's departure stem from a lack of sufficient incentives to remain in the league, as costs far outweighed the returns. This issue is unfortunately common in the current EMEA Regional League system, where organizational turnover remains alarmingly high. Specifically, GENK cited several key factors leading to their exit: the absence of physical events to foster sponsorships and community engagement, excessively high player salaries, and a failure to connect with the Belgian scene.

Although the Elite Series has organized at least one in-person event per year since its inception (excluding the COVID-19 pandemic years), sources indicate that the league is unlikely to host any events this year. Plans for LAN finals during the Summer Playoffs were scrapped due to a last-minute scheduling change related to the new EMEA Masters format.

While GENK's exit may be disappointing for some, it may prove a relief to others. Despite good intentions to engage with the community, the organization faced criticism for its management decisions during the summer split. In a last-ditch effort to connect with said community, GENK fielded a roster comprised solely of grassroot student players, most of whom had never competed at this level before. Unfortunately, the team finished the split without a single victory, suffering losses in some of the shortest games in the region's history.

Although key points and criticism made to the region's sustainability remain valid, many now seem to overlook the overall message due to the organization's poor result and competitive decisions. The team's performance indicated that many players were simply not prepared to compete against other ERL teams, leading to a series of humiliating displays.