One of China’s most storied League of Legends (LoL) organisations has ceased operations, marking a significant shift for the country’s premier league. Royal Never Give Up (RNG) has formally announced its departure from the Chinese LPL, ending an eleven-year tenure that included five domestic titles and three Mid-Season Invitational championships. The move, following the earlier exit of FunPlus Phoenix, reduces the LPL to 14 teams for the 2026 season and underscores the financial pressures the organisation was facing.

The organisation’s exit had been anticipated for months, with the team not participating in the latter part of the 2025 season and absent from the LPL’s official 2026 format announcement. RNG’s departure is attributed to reported financial and legal difficulties since early 2024, including lawsuits from former star players over millions in unpaid wages. This was compounded by the retirement of key figures and subsequent competitive decline, which strained relationships with partners.

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RNG’s exit concludes the run of one of the LPL’s foundational clubs. Since joining in 2015, the team became an instant powerhouse, winning the LPL five times and securing MSI trophies in 2018, 2021, and 2022. The squad’s best run at the World Championship (Worlds) was a semi-final finish in 2017, with earlier-than-expected exits often defining their global campaigns.

The LPL’s team count continues to contract through a structured slot repurchase programme. After operating with 17 teams at its peak, the league was reduced to 16 following Rare Atom‘s departure in 2025. FunPlus Phoenix (FPX), the 2019 World Champions, officially left the league on 1st January 2026 after eight years, having reached a mutual agreement with the LPL.

The league’s initiative, which allows a maximum of two teams to exit per year to streamline its schedule, saw FPX’s application approved after an initial attempt in 2024. This systemic reduction continues with the relegation format for the 2026 season, where the bottom two of the remaining 14 teams after Split 2 will not compete in Split 3.

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