Worlds-winning Chinese powerhouse to exit LPL

FunPlus Phoenix, one of only three Chinese teams to win the League of Legends World Championship, is set to leave the LPL. The 2019 world champions helped shape the identity of the Chinese League esports and became one of the region’s most influential teams. 

FPX’s departure goes far beyond competitive results. It signals a broader shift within China’s esports ecosystem, revealing the strategic recalibration underway across the region’s most prestigious league.

From signing young talent to building a team identity around aggressive, high-tempo play, FPX helped redefine the LPL’s global reputation. Their Worlds 2019 run, where they dismantled Europe’s G2 Esports, remains one of the most dominant finals performances ever recorded. G2 looked to create history by winning Worlds along with their MSI title that year, but FPX ended the Western team’s hopes. 

The LPL’s decision to repurchase FPX’s slot fits into a larger trend of restructuring, according to the statement released on Weibo, which indicated that the team has reached a “mutual agreement” with the LPL following amicable negotiations.

As esports leagues modernize, many are prioritizing sustainability, stability, and long-term viability over sheer size. The league appears to be entering a consolidation phase, where teams like Rare Atoms have already left, and there are now talks of other teams planning their exit from LPL.

This mirrors movements seen in other regions, where financial recalibration is influencing roster decisions, team exits, and ownership shifts. FPX leaves behind a legacy measured not just in trophies but in impact. Their title reshaped global perceptions of Chinese League esports, inspiring a generation of players and energizing the region’s fanbase and taking the spotlight away from the Korean teams.

In recent times, FPX was underperforming and not even making the playoffs or qualifying for international tournaments. That looked to play a part in the team’s decision to cease operations starting next year.  

Their exit is a reminder of an evolving truth: in esports, dynasties rise fast and sometimes disappear just as quickly. But what FPX achieved in their short time will not be forgotten. The Phoenix are gone from the table, but their fire continues to burn across the LPL and beyond.