Riot Games has decided to postpone the NLC Spring Split until late April as they are still in the process of searching for a new tournament operator for the Northern European League of Legends competition.
The delay comes after League ApS, operating under LeaguesGG, decided to step away from league operations, causing the split to be unable to start as originally planned.
As a result, the NLC, a significant Tier 2 league for UK Esports, Ireland, and the Nordics, is now in a state of limbo. Players, staff, and on-air talent are eagerly awaiting not only a new start date but also clarity on who will be running the league and what changes the split will undergo in preparation for EMEA Masters qualification.
Reasons behind the delay
Riot announced the postponement in an official update on the league’s social platforms, explaining that more time is needed to finalize the NLC’s “next setup” following the departure of its former TO. The developer mentioned that discussions with potential replacement partners are ongoing, but as of now, no new operator has been appointed.
The circumstances leading to this exit had already been made public. According to The Esports Advocate, League ApS informed Riot that they were no longer able to operate the league, while Esports.net previously reported on delayed payments to casters, hosts, and other freelancers at the beginning of the 2026 season.
In response, League ApS stated, “We sincerely regret the delays in payments that occurred during this period; however, our focus was always to ensure all payments.” This statement came after public complaints from broadcast talent and staff, shining a light on the league’s operational challenges.
A recurring issue in EMEA regional League of Legends
This situation may not be surprising to those closely following the NLC. While the league has maintained its significance within the Riot Games regional system, the business side has appeared increasingly fragile despite strong audience interest and its role on the path to EMEA Masters.
What makes this significant is that the NLC is not a forgotten part of the ecosystem. As highlighted in our coverage of the NLC Spring 2025’s high viewership, the league continues to attract attention, especially within the UK and Nordic scenes, even as concerns about its infrastructure persist.
The broader EMEA picture has not been reassuring either. Recent reports on systemic issues across EMEA League of Legends esports have emphasized how vulnerable regional ecosystems can become when governance, staffing, and long-term support face challenges.
Impacted parties and the way forward
The immediate impact of this delay is felt by teams trying to plan for a split without a confirmed format, on-air talent dealing with payment issues, and players whose development schedule now faces compression. Any further delays would add pressure to the path towards EMEA Masters, even if Riot adjusts the schedule to ensure qualification.
For UK Esports in particular, the NLC remains one of the few visible top-level League of Legends structures that nurture local talent for the broader European system. Extended downtime not only delays matches but also disrupts scrim schedules, sponsor planning, and the visibility that smaller organizations depend on.
The focus now shifts to which operator Riot Games will entrust to take over from LeaguesGG, and whether the late April target will still be feasible once the new NLC format and EMEA Masters pathway are solidified.