With standout players like Luka "Perkz" Perković and Marcin "Jankos" Jankowski, Ruddy Esports is gearing up for an exciting 2025 season in the Northern League of Legends Championship (NLC).

Los Ratones, led by Marc Robert "Caedrel" Lamont and featuring fan favorites like Carl Martin Erik "Rekkles" Larsson, Tim "Nemesis" Lipovšek, and Simon "Thebausffs" Hofverberg, have not announced which league they will play in next year. However, they are eligible to play in both the EBL and NLC, as they are expected to join the European Regional Leagues.

This guide will break down the NLC and the general Tier 2 European ecosystem for new fans of the scene.

What is the NLC?

Whether in sports or esports, any competition around the world with a defined league needs a way to develop new talent. In League of Legends, all major regions have a Tier 2 system. This year, the LCK had the LCK Challengers League (LCK CL), the LPL had the League of Legends Development League (LDL) and the LCS had the North American Challengers League (NACL).

Europe works differently than other regions — instead of a single Tier 2 league, teams compete in their local European Regional Leagues (ERL), each representing a different region of EMEA. In 2024, there were a total of 13 different ERLs. The NLC is the ERL representing several primarily Northern European countries: the United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Malta.

Why compete in NLC?

In the past four years, 100% of rookie European players promoted into the LEC had competed in the ERLs first. However, ERLs have been successful in many more ways. All ERLs have their own set of organizers (contracted with Riot Games), casters, and professionals working on the league. Partly due to national pride and identity behind each region, some ERLs have grown strong fanbases, attracting tens of thousands of regular viewers.

To ensure fairness and identity, all ERLs have to abide by the same rule: all teams participating in the leagues are required to have a minimum of two Locally-Trained Representatives (LTR) on their starting roster. With midlaner Adam "LIDER" Ilyasov, botlaner Jakob "Jackspektra" Gullvag Kepple and support Alf-Kristian "Nash" Haaland Sund all being Norwegians, Ruddy's roster is allowed to play in the NLC.

Los Ratones could also technically join the league with their two Swedish players — Rekkles and Thebausffs — but they could also play in the Esports Balkan League (EBL), as their three other players are from the region. However, the NLC has historically been a stronger region.

Starting in 2025, largely thanks to Los Ratones, Riot Games will permit ERL organizers to permit teams to have their players stream their in-game perspectives. The NLC is among the leagues ready to embrace this change, creating an appealing environment for players hoping to continue their streaming careers like Jackspektra. This shift enables content-focused players to deliver competitive gameplay while simultaneously hosting their own streams, blending competition with personal brand growth.

Qualification to EMEA Masters

Now, here's the cool stuff about ERLs: while all leagues have their teams and players, they all compete to qualify for EMEA Masters. This is the tournament where teams from various regions fight each other; the battlefield where the France versus Spain war started, long before it came to the LEC.

In its latest edition, the EMEA Masters featured a Swiss Stage bigger than Worlds with four rounds for a total of 32 teams. There, teams all fight to qualify for the playoffs, similar to the Worlds format but bigger. Last summer, the winning team of the tournament, Team BDS Academy, saw four of its five players promoted to LEC teams this offseason.

In general, performing at EMEA Masters has always been the best way for European players in Tier 2 to gather interest from LEC teams. Historically, the vast majority of EMEA Masters finalists have sent multiple players to the LEC in the next year.

Will history repeat itself?

The inaugural edition of the EMEA Masters in 2018 featured its own star-studded roster of former Tier 1 players, designed to capture fans' attention and compete for the trophy. Origen assembled a lineup packed with talent, including Choi "inSec" In-seok, Henrik "Froggen" Hansen, and William "UNF0RGIVEN" Nieminen.

Unlike today's format, where teams must qualify through regional leagues, Origen entered the tournament directly. They faced a close semifinal against MAD Lions — a squad featuring future LEC stars Selfmade and Nemesis — but ultimately claimed victory, lifting the first-ever EMEA Masters trophy.

Since then, teams from various regions have claimed the EMEA Masters title. The LFL has been the dominant force, winning seven of the 14 tournaments held over seven years — an impressive 50% success rate. Meanwhile, the NLC has yet to secure a championship. Their closest attempt came in Spring 2021 when BTXL reached the finals but fell short against Karmine Corp.

NLC: A fall and a resurgence

The early days of the NLC showcased more than just competitive gameplay. As the only ERL with an English broadcast, it became a breeding ground for broadcast talent, helping launch the careers of current LEC casters and hosts like Georgia "Troubleinc" Paras. The league also drew attention from fans and players alike, thanks to the involvement of organizations like Fnatic and Excel, which fielded strong, competitive rosters.

However, NLC's success was short-lived. Declining viewership and economic struggles, compounded by a lack of regional pride compared to its French or Spanish counterparts, led to a rapid downturn. By 2023, the league shrank from 10 to 8 teams, with several historic organizations departing, further exacerbating its decline. While newer teams like Ruddy Esports have since joined, the league struggled to recapture its former glory.

Today, the NLC is dominated by amateur organizations unable to compete for top talent against stronger ERLs. Still, the arrival of iconic European figures is poised to reignite interest and boost viewership. Additionally, the league is set to return to a 10-team format in 2025, ending a two-year stretch with only eight teams and signaling a potential resurgence.