Karmine Corp has officially confirmed its acquisition of Astralis’ position in the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC). This French organization is set to make its LEC debut in 2024.
Karmine Corp had attempted to enter the LEC in late 2022, but Riot Games didn’t accept their application at the time, leaving fans curious about the decision. Less than a year later, Karmine Corp’s co-owner Kamel “Kameto” Kebir began hinting at the possibility of their dreams coming true and eventually made the long-awaited announcement.
Established in March 2020 by Twitch streamers Kameto and Zouhair “Kotei” Darji, Karmine Corp rapidly climbed the ranks of the national French league, the LFL, winning two championships and securing four EMEA Masters tournaments. The organization boasts a passionate fan base, most of whom were in the audience at the 2023 LEC Season Finals in Montpellier, and will now closely follow the European league.
However, as a new organization enters the LEC, a historic one departs, and it’s Astralis’ turn to say goodbye. Astralis joined the LEC after acquiring Origen, a team that had been part of the European league since 2015 and rebranded in 2020. After only three years, Astralis is bidding farewell to the LEC.
Astralis’ performance in the LEC over three seasons was mixed, with their best finish coming in the 2023 LEC Spring Groups, where they secured second place. Their last split was marked by an early exit, and their inability to accumulate enough Championship Points resulted in their absence from the LEC Season Finals, marking the end of their journey in the LEC.
Riot confirmed that all players under Astralis will become free agents at the start of the upcoming offseason.
Maximilian Peter Schmidt, the director of League of Legends Esports EMEA at Riot, expressed well wishes to Astralis for their future endeavors and highlighted the anticipation surrounding Karmine Corp’s entry, particularly in France, known for its passionate EMEA community.
It’s worth noting that Karmine Corp had been pursuing entry into the LEC since the previous year but didn’t meet all the requirements at the time. Riot’s evaluation process for prospective teams includes factors like ownership, brand strength, fandom, business history, objectives, and player development strategies. Decisions are made based on these criteria, either accepting applicants or exercising the right to veto based on various aspects of their application. In this case, Astralis had the authority to choose the new owner of their spot, while Riot held the veto power if Karmine Corp didn’t align with the established criteria for partnered organizations.
While the LEC community looks forward to Karmine Corp’s inclusion and the excitement it promises, the organization’s presence in the French ERL will continue. Karmine Corp will compete in the LFL while participating in the LEC, with its LFL roster serving as an academy team, focusing on nurturing emerging esports talents.
This development sets the stage for an exciting new chapter in the EMEA esports ecosystem. Although the 2024 LEC roster of Karmine Corp remains undisclosed, fans can anticipate fierce rivalries as the passionate fan base transitions from the ERL scene to conquer international competition, contributing to the league’s growth and success.