The Worlds 2021 champion faces a travel ban due to a legal dispute with EDward Gaming, the team he won Worlds with.
LNG Esports are facing a significant setback ahead of the League of Legends World Championship 2024, as their mid-laner Lee "Scout" Ye-chan might miss the tournament due to an ongoing legal dispute with his former team, EDward Gaming.
According to a report by Daily Esports by Naver on 12 September, the legal battle between Scout and EDG could prevent him from attending the League of Legends World Championship.
Scout was instrumental in LNG Esports' 3-0 victory over Weibo Gaming during the LPL regional qualifiers, securing their spot as the third seed for Worlds 2024. However, his attendance at Worlds is now uncertain due to a civil lawsuit filed by EDG following his transfer to LNG Esports.
Travel ban issued for Scout
The issue escalated when EDG, unhappy with the initial trial outcome, appealed the decision and requested a travel ban on Scout. This ban, which is tied to the ongoing legal case, has prevented Scout from leaving China. In fact, he had plans to travel to Korea after the LPL season but has been unable to do so due to the said travel ban.
Scout had been with EDG from 2016 to 2022, where he helped the team win the LoL World Championship in 2021. He was also named the MVP of Worlds that year.
With the second trial still underway, it is looking unlikely that Scout will be able to attend the Swiss stage of Worlds 2024, set to start on 3 October in Berlin.
This would be a huge blow for LNG Esports, who have relied heavily on Scout throughout the season. LNG Esports' roster would be forced to adapt, with sub-member 'Shadow' Zhao Ziqiang, a jungler, potentially stepping in to fill Scout’s position in the mid-lane.
LNG Esports' efforts for resolution
LNG Esports are actively seeking a resolution, but their efforts largely depend on cooperation from EDG. A representative for LNG Esports, said,
"We are doing our best in many ways to ensure that 'Scout' can participate in the World Championship this time. We are continuously looking for ways, but it seems difficult to participate without EDG’s cooperation."
LNG also made a public plea, requesting that EDG reconsider the travel ban, stating,
“For the sake of our fans and the good performance of the Chinese team, we would like to respectfully request that EDG lift the travel ban on Scout.”
For now, the situation remains unresolved, and it’s unclear whether Scout will be able to join his team in Berlin for Worlds 2024. Fans of both LNG Esports and Scout will be watching closely, hoping for a swift resolution that allows Scout to compete on the global stage.
