NORD Esports leave the NLC after three years

Another major loss has struck the Northern League of Legends Championship (NLC). Following the confirmed departure of Los Ratones, announced by Marc "Caedrel" Lamont, a second team will leave the league next season. After three years competing in the NLC, NORD Esports will exit the league ahead of the upcoming season.

The decision was confirmed on social media by the team’s CEO and co-founder, Michel Klepper. However, the organization is not expected to disappear entirely. Instead, they are set to join the Prime League through a merger with G2 Esports, forming the new academy team of the LEC organization, as previously reported by Sheep Esports.

Three years ultimately proved insufficient for NORD Esports to claim an NLC title. Despite this, the team featured several notable players over a relatively short period and left a clear mark on the league. After joining the NLC in 2023, NORD Esports qualified for the EMEA Masters in their very first year, although the run ended in the play-ins.

This season, the roster was built around four players without prior experience in the LEC or LCS, including Lucas "Santorin" Larsen and Matthew "xMatty" Coombs. The fifth player was none other than German content creator and NNO midlaner Frederik "NoWay" Hinteregger. European jungle icon Marcin "Jankos" Jankowski also joined the team from the Spring Split onward. NORD Esports reached the NLC finals twice but fell on both occasions to Los Ratones, a pattern that repeated in the Round of 16 at the EMEA Masters Spring.

The organization is expected to merge with G2 Esports to form G2 Nord, the new academy team of the European organization, which will compete in the Prime League. As a result, the NORD Esports brand will cease to exist, adding another name to the growing list of organizations that have ended their activities during this offseason.

That list already includes teams such as IziDream, GameWard, and Gentle Mates in the LFL and LFL Division 2, FunPlus Phoenix in the LPL, and TALON in the LCP. Several other organizations remain uncertain about their participation in the next Superliga season with the new tournament organizer, Lastlap, including Ramboot Club, Guasones, and Veni Vidi Vici.