China’s League of Legends Pro League (LPL) is set to operate with 14 teams in 2026, down from 16, following the confirmed departure of FunPlus Phoenix (FPX) and the apparent absence of Royal Never Give Up (RNG) from the league’s upcoming-season lineup.
As of publication, the league’s operator, TJ Sports, has not released a separate public statement detailing RNG’s status. By contrast, FPX’s exit is documented: TJ Sports repurchased FPX’s franchise slot, and FPX ceased participation in the LPL and related competitions effective Jan. 1, 2026.
RNG’s apparent non-participation comes amid well-publicized financial and legal challenges. In June 2025, Shanghai First Intermediate People’s Court ordered RNG and its founder Yao “Baixing” Jincheng, to pay ¥162 million ($22.5 million) to an unnamed plaintiff. Insiders suggested to The Esports Advocate that total claims might exceed ¥1 billion ($140 million), indicating this payment may merely crack the surface.
Founded in 2012, RNG has been one of China’s most recognizable League of Legends brands, winning multiple LPL titles and three Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) championships (2018, 2021, and 2022). At its commercial peak, RNG secured partnerships with brands including Mercedes-Benz, KFC, and Nike. In 2025, RNG icon Jian “Uzi” Zihao was honored as the second inductee into Riot’s Hall of Legends, following T1’s Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok.
Symbolically notable is that the 2021 LPL Spring Split Final was contested by RNG and FPX—two organizations that are now exiting the league’s franchised era.