Sources: Yike set to stay with Karmine Corp for the 2026 season

After a year of ups and downs, jungler Martin "Yike" Sundelin is expected to continue with Karmine Corp for the 2026 LEC season, sources tell Sheep Esports. Despite his contract still running until the end of 2026, Karmine Corp has no intention to sell the player. He is expected to continue competing with the team next year.

KC is currently exploring the market for various roles. The midlaner position, in particular, is not expected to be filled by Vladimiros "Vladi" Kourtidis next year, as previously reported by Sheep Esports. Per sources, several possibilities are also being considered for the coaching staff. Yike, on the other hand, will continue with KC next year, despite the recent impressive performances of academy jungler Johnny "Yukino" Dang. Karmine Corp will be looking to use their import spots in the sololanes instead.

After two initial seasons in the LEC with G2, crowned with numerous regional titles, the multiple European champions are parted ways with Yike, who was heading to Karmine Corp. He came to strengthen a team that had a foundation created since the preivous year with Vladi, Kim "Canna" Chang-dong, Raphaël "Targamas" Crabbé, and alongoside the rising star Caliste "Caliste" Henry-Hennebert. Quickly, the team finds its rhythm and creates a surprise by winning the winter split of the LEC.

The team qualifies for the First Stand and even reaches the final of the international tournament, a first for Europe since Worlds 2019. Yike was largely responsible for the stability he brought. He particularly shone in a match against Top Esports. After these promising beginnings, KC continued into the spring... but stumbled twice against KOI in the playoffs and narrowly missed qualifying for the Mid-Season Invitational and the Esports World Cup.

In the summer, the scenario repeated for the Blue Wall, which failed in the final stretch to qualify for Worlds with a defeat against Fnatic. With struggling team synergy, the jungler's performance declined and his impact diminished. In his latest message on X after the defeat, Yike expressed his regret as he "failed at taking a leadership role in this team."

Despite this, KC is renewing its confidence in its multi-titled jungler, who remains one of the best — perhaps even the best — jungler in the league on his good days. He should be the second player to be assured of being part of the roster for next year alongside Caliste. Karmine Corp is also still close to a possible extension of Canna, as previously reported by Sheep Esports.