Riftbound has experienced significant growth since its debut set, Origins. Esports organizations are now taking notice, with T1, South Korea’s largest esports organization, signing Nick “LS” De Cesare as its Riftbound player.
𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄, ‘𝐋𝐒’
T1 Riftbound 팀에 ‘LS’ Nick De Cesare 선수가 합류하였습니다.
TCG 플레이어로 T1과 함께 새로운 도전을 시작하는 ‘LS’ 선수를 따뜻하게 맞아 주세요!We are pleased to announce that ‘LS’ is joining T1’s Riftbound team!
Please give a warm welcome to ‘LS’ as he… pic.twitter.com/XuEaFbHUHO— T1 Official (@T1_official_gg) June 19, 2026
LS joins T1’s Riftbound team, hinting at upcoming developments
Several intriguing aspects emerge from this announcement. Firstly, T1’s interest in Riftbound signifies a shift towards the game. Given T1’s predominantly Korean fanbase, their foray into a non-core region of the game is noteworthy. Additionally, this move indicates that prominent LoL esports brands are exploring the physical adaptation of the game. As the premier LoL brand in esports, T1’s involvement is poised to elevate Riftbound further, potentially attracting its existing fanbase to the TCG.
This marks possibly the second esports organization to venture into Riftbound. Last month, an EDG player emerged victorious at the Sydney event using Irelia, representing the first major esports brand in the space. With Riftbound’s strong presence in China and its early launch in the region before English cards, T1’s entry underscores the game’s immense potential.
I’m the Champion of RQ Sydney! What a weekend
Here’s the list for Irelia enjoyers😍
met a lot of kind people, had some insane games and touched some grass, Sydney is a chill city I love here
See you guys in future events maybe!#riftbound #RQSydney pic.twitter.com/3v3DFNPvk6— Beenew (@Rico19971) May 18, 2026
LS, known for his card gaming background in Magic: The Gathering, has been instrumental in building Riftbound’s presence on social media. He is actively growing the Korean scene by organizing events to engage LoL fans in the card game.
Notably, LS clinched the Best of Teemo award at the Las Vegas RQ earlier this year, while representing Fly Quest and T1 due to his connections as a LoL content creator and analyst.
Having put in significant solo effort in Korea, LS has hinted at upcoming developments that may materialize in the coming weeks.
It’s likely that LS will participate in future RQs sponsored by the most successful LoL esports organization.
So much on the horizon soon that I’m extremely excited about involving Riftbound 🙂 Excited to be able to talk about more soon over the next few weeks. All the isolated grinding in Korea will soon materialize 😎 https://t.co/1gsR9Qlydz pic.twitter.com/hAG8YO6UWM
— LS (@LSXYZ9) June 19, 2026
The future of Riftbound presents an intriguing landscape. While card teams currently dominate the game, with CTCG players leading the pack, the entry of traditional esports organizations like T1 could disrupt this space significantly. The emergence of new teams like Team Mico from Spain, alongside established players like TSS and Team Poland, signals a dynamic and competitive environment to watch.