by Karmine Corp, a prominent French esports organization, has officially secured a spot in the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) for the 2024 season.
This exciting development comes as a result of Karmine Corp’s acquisition of Astralis’ LEC slot.
THE BLUE WALL HAS ARRIVED.??
Welcome to the @LEC, @KarmineCorp! pic.twitter.com/ysXh5oIYzr
— LoL Esports (@lolesports) October 18, 2023
Karmine Corp had previously attempted to enter the LEC in late 2022 but was initially not accepted by Riot Games, leaving fans curious about the reasons behind this decision.
However, less than a year later, Karmine Corp’s co-owner, Kamel “Kameto” Kebir, began hinting at the possibility of their dream coming true, eventually making the long-awaited announcement.
Karmine Corp, founded in March 2020 by popular Twitch streamers Kameto and Zouhair “Kotei” Darji, swiftly climbed through the ranks of the French national league, the LFL, securing two championships and winning four EMEA Masters tournaments.
The organization boasts a passionate fanbase, many of whom were present at the 2023 LEC Season Finals in Montpellier, underlining their enthusiasm for the European league.
However, with every newcomer in the LEC, there is a historic organization departing, and this time it’s Astralis bidding farewell.
Astralis entered the LEC after acquiring Origen, a team that had been a part of the European League since 2015 and rebranded in 2020.
Astralis’ three-season run in the LEC had mixed performances, with their best finish being second place in the 2023 LEC Spring Groups.
Their last split ended with an early exit and a lack of Championship Points, resulting in their absence from the LEC Season Finals and concluding their journey in the LEC.
In addition to the news of Karmine Corp’s entry, Riot confirmed that all players under Astralis would become free agents at the start of the upcoming offseason.
Maximilian Peter Schmidt, Director of League of Legends Esports EMEA at Riot, expressed appreciation for Astralis as a valued partner and extended his best wishes for their future endeavors.
Karmine Corp’s journey to the LEC was not without its challenges.
Riot’s thorough evaluation process for prospective teams includes assessing ownership, brand strength, fandom, business history, objectives, and player development strategies.
The selling team, Astralis in this case, had the power to choose the new owner of its slot, while Riot had the authority to veto the transaction if Karmine Corp didn’t align with the established criteria for partnered organizations.
Despite joining the LEC, Karmine Corp’s presence in the French ERL (European Regional League) will continue.
Riot confirmed that Karmine Corp will also compete in the LFL while participating in the LEC, with their LFL roster serving as an academy team, focused on nurturing emerging talents within the esports community.
This move sets the stage for an exciting new chapter in the EMEA esports ecosystem.
While Karmine Corp’s 2024 LEC roster remains a mystery, fans can anticipate intense rivalries as the passionate fan base rises from the ERL landscape to conquer international competition, contributing to the league’s growth and success.
In the financial aspect of this development, Karmine Corp acquired the LEC slot by purchasing a 66.67% stake in a newly formed subsidiary, AK-Game SAS, for DKK 129 million.
As a result, Astralis retains a minority stake in the League of Legends franchise slot, with the possibility for Karmine Corp to gain full ownership by 2031.
Karmine Corp’s entry into the LEC reflects the continuing evolution of the League of Legends competitive landscape as historic organizations transition out and new, passionate entities like Karmine Corp step in to write the next chapter in the league’s history.
