LDLC leaves Counter-Strike, releases remaining players from team

French esports staple Team LDLC might be done with Counter-Strike after nearly a decade of involvement with the venerable franchise.

The organization announced on Twitter that it has dissolved its Counter-Strike: Global Offensive roster. The news comes following a pair of high-profile departures from the team.

“We are now announcing that we are ending the collaboration with the current CS:GO team,” LDLC said in the statement. “Following this decision, we would like to thank each of the players and wish them all the best for the rest of their careers.”

LDLC has been a steady presence in the European CS:GO scene. Originally competing in Counter-Strike and Counter-Strike: Source, LDLC expanded into Counter-Strike: Global Offensive in 2013 and peaked in 2014 with a lineup that was capable of taking on the top teams of the era, such as Fnatic and Ninjas in Pyjamas. Throughout its history, it hosted almost every prominent French CS:GO player from that era, including Kenny “kennyS” Schrub, Nathan “NBK-” Schmitt, and Richard “shox” Papillon.

LDLC began its decline as the French scene became fertile territory for new teams. It lost most of its successful 2014 roster to Titan Esports, signed a new roster shortly thereafter, and then was once again left without a team when those players left to join the inaugural EnVyUs roster. The team settled into something of a feeder role from there, predominantly competing in smaller events while its players were plucked away by bigger European teams.

Those issues intensified as it lost longtime anchor Kevin “Ex6TenZ” Droolans to G2 Esports with Mathieu “Maniac” Quiquerez and Timothée “DEVIL” Démolon departing not long after. LDLC rebuilt its roster once again, but the wheels came off completely when it failed to qualify in December for the Europe Minor.

Alex “ALEX” McMeekin departed for Team Vitality in the following days, François “AMANEK” Delaunay became a free agent in January, and Logan “LOGAN” Corti joined 3DMAX in March. The team was eventually left with just David “devoduvek” Dobrosavljević and Antoine “to1nou” Pirard, leading to LDLC’s dissolution.

Whether this move is permanent is unknown. Though LDLC finds itself in a precarious position, there is a strong enough free agent pool to form a new team if the organization so desires, potentially around former players such as Fabien “kioShiMa” Fiey and Alexandre “bodyy” Pianaro.

With or without a Counter-Strike team, LDLC retains a presence in esports courtesy of its League of Legends team and stable of battle royale players.