LoL: LPL buys back FunPlus Phoenix's franchise slot, ending the organisation's participation

The LPL, China's League of Legends professional league, officially announced on November 17, 2025, the repurchase of FunPlus Phoenix's franchise slot, the organisation that won the World Championship in 2019. Effective January 1, 2026, FPX will cease participation in the league and associated competitions, marking the end of a historic name in the LoL scene.

This departure is part of the LPL's slot repurchase program launched in late 2024, designed to optimize the league's competitiveness and future. According to the official statement, FPX and the LPL reached a mutually agreed settlement following discussions throughout 2025, resulting in the departure of a historic organization. These discussions are notably similar to the current public debate surrounding the LEC, League of Legends' European championship, following the announcement of the new Winter Split format and the addition of Los Ratones and Karmine Corp's academy team to the competition.

The LPL, which had 17 teams until 2024, had already repurchased Rare Atom's slot in November 2024, reducing the championship to 16 teams for the 2025 season. With FPX's departure, the league could drop to 14 or 15 teams in 2026, particularly because Chinese insiders have revealed that Royal Never Give Up (RNG) could also be leaving the LPL.

Founded in late 2017, FPX entered the LPL in the 2018 season and quickly established itself as a heavyweight in China. In 2019, the team won the Spring regular season, then the Summer season before securing the Summer playoffs, qualifying for its first Worlds. FPX immediately made history by winning the Summoners Cup in Paris, dominating G2 Esports 3-0 in the grand final.

Following this success, the Chinese organization never recaptured those heights, merely lingering in the middle of the LPL standings despite a few lost playoff finals, notably in 2021. FPX has not participated in the Worlds even once since 2021, despite appearing in three consecutive editions beforehand.