Argentinian esports organisation Isurus has officially announced it won’t take part in the CBLOL during the 2026 competitive season.
According to Isurus, the decision was driven by the splitting of the LTA back into the LCS and CBLOL, which reduced opportunities to participate in global events for the latter.
The team also explained that the guest slot given by Riot Games also presented challenges and risks, which impacted several areas in its day-to-day operations.
Unlike partner teams, guest partners must compete in a promotion and relegation tournament at the end of each year. Isurus would therefore have to compete against teams from the tier two scene to secure its status for the upcoming season.
Initially, the organisation recorded strong results in the first split of the 2025 season, finishing first in the LTA South Split 1 after merging with Estral Esports. However, Isurus struggled to maintain the same level of competitiveness in the following splits, failing to qualify for the LTA Championship, ending its collaboration with Estral, and missing out on all the international tournaments of the season.
While Isurus was able to win the LTA South promotion tournament, the 2026 CBLOL season will only award one team per international tournament. This is opposed to the LCS, which will get two at the Mid-Season Invitational and three at Worlds 2026.
“It’s not just about covering a slot at the end of the year, but precisely that being an invited team inherently positions you at a very strong structural disadvantage compared to all the other partner teams, both competitively and in terms of business,” explained Facundo ‘Kala’ Calabró, CEO & Founder of Isurus, through a video on social media.
“The model simply doesn’t offer the level of stability or the planning horizon we prioritise, especially regarding long-term team building, the development of academies, and the lack of alignment of key dates such as promotion and relegation periods and early roster planning for the following years.”
What Happens Next?
Following the exit, the organisation will be making a return to its roots, strengthening the regional competitive ecosystem and finding new opportunities to grow the game outside of the professional tier one scene.
“We greatly value CBLOL, its community, and everything it represents for esports in Brazil. But under the current conditions, it’s not the right path for Isurus right now,” added Kala.
According to an official statement by Riot Games, a new team from South America’s tier two team is set to join the CBLOL for the coming season. That being said, the new team has yet to be confirmed.
