LoL – NLC: NORD Esports and Jankos miss out on EMEA Masters, ending their season

The NLC finally sees a shake-up in the Summer Split. For the first time this year, the league is guaranteed a brand-new Grand Final: NORD Esports, who finished second in both the Winter and Spring Splits, were eliminated in the Summer Split’s loser bracket by Verdant and ended the year in 4th place. For the first time this season, NORD will not participate in the EMEA Masters. The NLC will only send two teams directly to the Main Event, with a third going through the Last Chance Qualifier.

This means Marcin “Jankos” Jankowski and his teammates have officially ended their season. Los Ratones' support Martin “Rekkles” Larsson will miss the chance to face his former teammate in another Grand Final. Meanwhile, the two-time defending NLC champions and by far the league’s most dominant team this year, face a unique Summer scenario. They are still in the upper bracket and guaranteed a top-3 finish before even playing the winner bracket final.

Rebuilt in the last offseason after the Spring Split, NORD Esports were unable to recapture the magic of their previous roster. With changes in the midlane and botlane, it was hard to believe their ambitions for Summer were on the same level as in the earlier splits. Still led by Tamás “Vizicsacsi” Kiss and Jankos — who had even turned down LEC offers to stay with NORD for Summer — they fell 1-3 to Verdant.

That marks the end of the season for a team that combined competitive ambitions with a strong content identity, built around former LEC stars. Throughout the year, they were without question the fiercest rivals to Los Ratones, though they managed to beat them only once in a playoff series. In the end, NORD’s 2025 project will be remembered as one that shone a spotlight on the NLC.