KeSPA withdrawn from ENC, alleges team selection interference

The Korean eSports Association (KeSPA) has seemingly withdrawn from the Esports Nations Cup (ENC), as per reports emerging on Monday morning (April 27). Conflicting reports have suggested that this was either at the behest of ENC organizer, the Esports Foundation (EF) or a decision by KeSPA.

First reported by Seoul Sports, KeSPA had seemingly declined to participate in the ENC due to Esports Foundation officials (the event organizers) intervening in the player selection process of certain titles. Now, the ENC has been forced to issue a statement responding to KeSPA, suggesting they had terminated the agreement with the governing body over the past few days.

KeSPA shuns ENC after team selection controversy

KeSPA was unveiled as the official national team partner for South Korea for the ENC earlier this month. However, after a tumultuous start to the week, that no longer seems to be the case.

KeSPA, and a report by Seoul Sports, seemingly suggested that the Esports Foundation (EF) had attempted to intervene in the selection of players for certain game titles. It’s speculated that this includes League of Legends, where players such as Park "Ruler" Jae-hyuk and the most-famous esports talent in the world, Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok, compete.

Faker’s inclusion in the event would be a huge boon to the inaugural edition of the ENC, bringing eyes to the event, and blessing it with an additional degree of legitimacy. However, now with the withdrawal of KeSPA, the most storied national esports organization in the world, a significant blow has been dealt to that legitimacy.

KeSPA’s reasoning for not supporting the ENC comes down to its stringent selection process. The governing body uses both selection tournaments or points to select its international competition talent for other competitions, such as the Asian Games. However, the ENC seemingly wanted to forego these processes in order to instead pick more famous and popular players.

ENC promises Korean players will still compete at event

Since the report, the South Korean team has been quietly removed from the ENC website. Meanwhile, In response, the ENC doubled down on Korean participation at the event. In a statement released to multiple outlets, the Esports Foundation said this:

“The promise of the Korean national team to participate in the ENC remains unchanged. We will make sure that the Korean e-sports community is represented in line with its global status. We will communicate directly with Korean players, coaches, and stakeholders over the next week.”

However, this method could draw yet more ire from KeSPA. The organization has for years issued licences for players to compete at the highest levels of esports. Any one who goes behind KeSPA’s back potentially risks punitive measures from the governing body.

A statement from the Korea Olympic Council backed KeSPA:

“Only athletes selected through an official member organization are recognized as national team members," a KOC official said. "It is impossible for a team that has not participated through the association to represent Korea. If you participate as an individual or a team member, you cannot use the terms 'Taegeukgi,' 'Team Korea,' or 'National Team.'”

A full statement from the EF further suggested it was the one who'd decided to withdraw from the partnership with KeSPA.

"A few days ago, the Esports Foundation Informed KeSPA that we would noot be moving forward together as oour national partner for the Esports Nation Cup 2026."

Regardless of who exactly initiated the withdrawal, KeSPA and South Korea have become the first nation to reject Saudi Arabia’s $45 million dollar event, and its $20 million dollar prize pool, greatly affecting its legitimacy. With China absent, Hong Kong and Korea removed, the future of the Esports Foundation’s international competition is under fire.