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Eternal Fire Steps Into VCT EMEA as ULF Esports Loses Its Spot
Riot Games has officially confirmed that Turkish organization Eternal Fire will join VCT EMEA for the remainder of the 2026 season, stepping in to replace ULF Esports. The news marks a dramatic shake-up in the league, one that had been brewing behind the scenes for weeks.
What started as rumors about ULF Esports struggling with serious operational and financial issues quickly snowballed into one of the biggest stories of the VCT 2026 cycle. Rather than letting the roster pay the price for the organization's failures, Riot stepped in and gave the players a lifeline, and Eternal Fire was ready to answer the call.
How ULF Esports lost their seat
It wasn't a sudden decision. League officials had been in ongoing dialogue with ULF Esports and player representatives regarding publicly reported operational challenges that threatened the organization's ability to meet league standards. Reports pointed to unpaid salaries and delayed promotion bonuses as the core issues, problems that reportedly extended across multiple Riot titles, including League of Legends.
Ultimately, ULF Esports withdrew from VCT EMEA ahead of Stage 1, and following discussions with all parties, Riot terminated their participation in the league. A tough pill to swallow for a roster that had earned their spot legitimately through VCT Ascension 2025.
Turkey's finest gets the call
Founded in 2021 and long established in the Turkish competitive scene, Eternal Fire wasn't just a random pick to fill the void. The players themselves requested to sign with the organization, and after an internal review, Riot approved the move. Eternal Fire will sign four of the former ULF roster members, with Echo, Nekky, Audaz, and Favian reportedly set to make the transition. A fifth player spot remains in discussion.
As for the players who won't be making the move, including duelists d3mur and sturNN, they have already announced they are searching for new teams. The league has committed to supporting those players through the transition.
A new chapter, a bigger stage
This isn't just about plugging a gap. Eternal Fire is making a real structural shift. Their current roster, which competed in VALORANT Challengers 2026: Türkiye Birlik, will transition into a secondary team role. That means the organization now has both a top-flight VCT EMEA presence and a developmental squad feeding into it, a solid foundation for long-term growth.
The league is looking forward to welcoming Eternal Fire when VCT EMEA Stage 1 kicks off on April 1, giving the Turkish org its first-ever shot at the international VCT stage. For a squad that clawed its way up through Ascension, the story is far from over. It's just getting started under a new banner.
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Featured Image Credits: Eternal Fire
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