LoL caster Sjokz returns to LEC after contract dispute

Eefje “Sjokz” Deeportere will be back on the LEC desk this week, and many fans are happy about it.

After a temporary absence due to continuing negotiations with the LEC, Sjokz is slated to once again be hosting the LEC. She was not present during the LEC’s third week of play but seems to have worked out an amicable solution with the European broadcast.

Sjokz returns to the LEC for week five

Sjokz’s temporary absence appears to have been worked out with Riot Games, as the LEC seemed excited to announce her return for the upcoming week of play. She had announced ahead of the LEC’s week three that her team had not been able to reach an agreeable contract with Riot Games for her appearance as the lead host on the desk. Sjokz works with the LEC on a contract basis, which allows her to pursue other opportunities including appearances in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive events.

I’M BACK BABY LET’S GET IIIIIIT ❤️❤️❤️ #LEC https://t.co/XCoe0OUJJ2

— Eefje Depoortere (@sjokz) February 10, 2022

Other casters and personalities have moved to a contract basis with the League of Legends developer. Isaac “Azael” Cummings-Bentley recently changed his status with Riot Games to work on a freelance basis. Many successful personalities find that the opportunities outside of League of Legends outweigh the stability of an exclusive agreement with Riot.

Fans were outspoken about Sjokz’s absence taking away from the LEC, with fellow caster Marc “Caedrel” Lamont commenting that the LEC without Sjokz just didn’t feel like the LEC. Fans seemed to agree, and her two-week disappearance from the broadcast was discussed loudly and often by fans.

Her retweet of the LEC’s announcement of her return on Twitter got over 35,000 likes on the first day. Fellow community figures were there to cheer her on as she made her way back to the big stage. Sjokz will resume her hosting duties in earnest from here on out, fans can assume.