Many LCS fans were taken aback today by the surprising news that both Golden Guardians and Evil Geniuses will be leaving the premier North American League of Legends league. The sudden announcement caught team members off guard, leaving them uncertain about their future.
Top laner Eric “Licorice” Ritchie, who played for Golden Guardians in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, expressed his shock at the news. He had planned to continue playing for Golden Guardians in 2024, but now finds himself without a team. Licorice is now actively seeking new opportunities and has even reached out to Riot to explore options for involvement in the LCS broadcast.
Kelsey Moser, head of the EG League coaching staff, also expressed disappointment at the late notice of the news. She revealed that very few people were aware of the decision before the weekend. Moser had been excited about the roster they were building, which would have provided opportunities for hardworking players. She urged others to consider the talented players from EG, such as @_Srtty, @k1ngYB, @sheidenlol, and @shadowr04, if any spots become available.
Unfortunately, the timing of the announcement has put the players and staff of both Golden Guardians and EG in a difficult position. The LCSPA criticized Riot for not giving them a fair opportunity to seek work elsewhere. The official announcement was made just hours before the start of the free agency window, leaving little time for players to find new teams.
However, Riot’s global esports head, John Needham, stated in an interview that discussions about terminating the agreements had been ongoing for weeks. He cited the Golden Guardians’ ownership group, the Golden State Warriors, wanting to focus on basketball, and EG’s well-known public issues as reasons for the decision.
Not only will players and coaches be affected, but also the staff and employees who worked on the League divisions for both organizations. They will now have to search for new opportunities outside of League as a whole.
Overall, the sudden exit of Golden Guardians and Evil Geniuses from the LCS has left players and staff in a state of uncertainty. With limited time to find new opportunities, they face a challenging road ahead.
Source: DOTESPORTS
