Top League players opt out of Esports Nations Cup

Several League of Legends players — Juš Marušič (Crownshot), Tim Lipovšek (Nemesis) and Mihael Mehle (MikyX) — have declined or expressed disinterest in competing at the Esports Nations Cup, according to deleted Twitch clips and community posts. Moderators later removed the clips and related posts.

The Esports Nations Cup is scheduled to run across multiple games in November 2026. National teams must lock rosters by April 26, and qualification points will be awarded through events running until June 14, 2026. Points are allocated based on placements at official Riot Games competitions, shared equally among players on a roster, and a nation’s total determines its ranking. The top 16 countries by June 14 will be invited to the event, with the top eight seeded directly into the group stage.

Deleted clips and community posts cited several practical reasons for the reluctance. Players pointed to the November timing, which overlaps common roster lock windows and contract negotiations. The material also referenced concerns about role depth and competitive balance for some national pools, and the effect a November tournament would have on content creators’ streaming schedules and income. Some participants questioned whether the event format and prize structure justified pulling players from league play or regular content commitments.

Additional material indicated mixed interest from other countries. Some Spanish creators were described as lukewarm, with the participation of a specific club roster noted as a factor in Spain’s ability to field a competitive team. Marc Lamont (Caedrel) reportedly declined an invitation to play mid lane for Great Britain. Sergen Çelik (Broken Blade) has been linked to the Turkish roster, and coaches Dylan Falco and Mac have been associated with Canada and Great Britain, respectively.

The deleted clips and removed posts leave organizers and national federations processing roster decisions as the April 26 deadline approaches and qualification points accumulate through mid-June.