LoL - EMEA Masters: Barça eSports eliminate Karmine Corp Blue 3-1, advance to the final against Los Ratones

Karmine Corp Blue's journey at the EMEA Masters Spring Split 2025 ended on Thursday night with a 1-3 defeat to Barça eSports in the semifinals. The last remaining French team in the competition, KCB’s exit marks the second consecutive split without an LFL representative in the final. Barça, fresh off their Spanish Superliga title and a quarterfinal win against Gentle Mates, will now face defending champions Los Ratones for the trophy this Saturday.

The defeat stings, especially for a KCB squad that had shown real promise throughout the tournament. Coming off a convincing run and with rising jungle talent Johnny “Yukino” Dang gaining momentum game after game, the French side seemed poised for a deep push, maybe even the trophy. But on the day, things didn’t click. Barça eSports proved too solid, too composed, and too prepared.

KCB struggled from the outset, missing the mark in several drafts and failing to adapt mid-series. Where their early tournament run was defined by creativity and team cohesion, Thursday’s series showed cracks in both. Barça didn’t hesitate to punish. They played fast, clean, and with the calm confidence of a team that knew exactly how to win.

It’s a disappointing end to what had been a hopeful campaign. While the first map gave French fans reason to believe, the next three unraveled quickly. The Spanish side controlled tempo, vision, and objectives, rarely giving KCB breathing room. And when they did, KCB couldn’t capitalize.

Barça’s road to the final has been paved with French resistance. In the quarterfinals, they dispatched Gentle Mates by the same scoreline, 3-1. Now, they’ll face Los Ratones, who swept BK ROG 3-0 on Wednesday, for the title on Saturday at 17:00 CEST. Neither French club managed to take more than a game off their opponents. For the LFL, it’s another sobering reminder that dominance in France no longer guarantees supremacy in Europe.

For Barça, it’s a shot at their first EMEA Masters title. For KCB, it’s a summer to reflect, rebuild, and come back stronger. But one thing is now certain: the LFL will finish another season empty-handed on the EMEA stage.