LEC Versus AD Carry Hazel benched by Karmine Corp Blue, Looki earns permanent promotion

It was one of the pleasant surprises of the LEC Versus. Having made the leap directly from the LFL Division 2 to the top level of EMEA League of Legends following Karmine Corp Blue's temporary promotion last Winter, exceeded expectations at a time when very little pressure rested on his shoulders. Yet after a promising start this year, the relationship between the Blue Wall and its AD Carry ultimately came to an end.

Last week, on the eve of the EMEA Masters, the organization announced that Hazel had been moved to the bench and replaced by player . On Monday, the club confirmed that the change would be permanent and that Hazel, former KCBS AD Carry himself, had been granted permission to explore his options as a free agent. "Following a more than convincing performance in his first EMEA Masters, we are proud to announce that Looki will be KCB's starting ADC for the 2026 LFL Summer Split," the organization wrote on X.

The reasons behind the decision have not been publicly disclosed. From a competitive standpoint, Hazel appeared to have fulfilled expectations in the LFL. While KCB never managed to challenge the two teams that have dominated the ERL landscape this year, and , and exited the Winter EMEA Masters in the quarterfinals, the academy nevertheless finished immediately behind them in third place during the Spring Split. The Romanian player seemed to be progressing along a logical trajectory within the roster, especially given that displacing first-team AD Carry was never a realistic prospect.

In that context, the decision may have had less to do with any shortcomings on Hazel's part and more with Looki's strong performances in the Nexus League. Karmine Corp Blue Stars dominated the French second division, posting an almost flawless 13-1 record during the regular season. The team encountered greater resistance in the playoffs but ultimately secured the Spring title after a five-game final against Project Conquerors.

While Looki had already stood out visually from the rest of the field, statistics compiled by @MonsieurYordle further reinforce that impression. The German marksman finished the split with the highest KDA, the highest average kills per game, the best DPM, and the highest GPM (Gold Per Minute) in the Nexus League.

According to the organization, he therefore demonstrated a sufficient level during the EMEA Masters. Despite joining the roster shortly before the tournament, KCB reached the quarterfinals before falling 1-3 to UCAM. The organization must now turn its attention to finding a replacement for its AD Carry on its third team.