Beşiktaş Esports, Papara SuperMassive and ULF Esports leave TCL

As the Turkish Championship League (TCL) is set to resume in a few weeks, three member teams will not take part in the competition next season. These teams are ULF Esports, Beşiktaş Esports, and Papara SuperMassive, as announced by the league itself on social media on Tuesday.

Beşiktaş Esports and Papara SuperMassive joined the league in 2015 and 2016, respectively, while ULF Esports spent only a single season competing in the league last year. This represents a significant setback for the TCL, which loses two of its most emblematic organizations. At the time of writing, their replacements have not yet been announced.

Beşiktaş Esports played its first split in the league during TCL Winter 2015, when the Turkish league was still a Tier 1 region. The only organization with greater longevity in the league is Dark Passage. Although Beşiktaş secured just one title — during their inaugural split —, the organization nonetheless remained one of the league’s historic members and was among the six teams qualified for the first-ever Mid-Season Invitational, which was ultimately won by Edward Gaming.

In its official statement, the organization clarified that this is not a definitive departure and that a return remains possible in the future: "When the Turkish League of Legends scene creates an environment that once again aligns with the dreams and goals of Beşiktaş Esports, we would like to be part of it again. Until then, unfortunately, our presence on this platform is not sustainable."

Papara SuperMassive, for their part, have claimed numerous TCL titles throughout its history and stands as the most successful organization in the region. The team also qualified for Worlds in 2018 and 2020. Last year, the organization became embroiled in controversy following the arrest of one of Papara’s owners on multiple criminal charges. This situation led to budget reductions for the esports division, notably resulting in the collapse of the team’s agreement with Doğukan "113" Balcı.

Finally, ULF Esports acquired a TCL slot last year and will have competed in the league for only one season. Despite promising beginnings, including two third-place finishes and qualifications for the EMEA Masters, the organization encountered financial difficulties, particularly delayed payments to several players and members of its League of Legends division, as previously reported by Sheep Esports. While ULF Esports has since qualified for the VCT EMEA in VALORANT, the organization has decided to bring its short League of Legends chapter to an end.