Eternal Fire replaces ULF Esports in VCT EMEA after payment issues

Following reports of financial struggles, ULF Esports has been replaced by Eternal Fire ahead of VCT EMEA Stage 1. ULF’s roster will be signed by Eternal Fire as part of the switch.

ULF out after payment issues

ULF’s exit from the Valorant Champions Tour comes after long-standing reports of payment failures and financial issues, with problems surrounding its League of Legends division raised by a former player in December of last year — before the team’s entry into VCT.

Riot Games’ statement announcing their departure pointed to “publicly reported operational challenges affecting the team and its ability to operate in line with league standards” as the trigger for a change.

Earlier this month, Sheep Esports reported that ULF’s VCT EMEA players had not yet been paid salaries up until that point, while promotion-based bonuses from their Ascension run were also not fulfilled.

Sheep’s report suggested that Riot Games had been aware of the situation and gave the organisation until the end of January to complete outstanding payments, a scenario that played again the month after. Ultimately, ULF themselves made the decision to withdraw from the league.

VCT EMEA Update: Team changes pic.twitter.com/7fxV9kn1O3

— VALORANT Esports EMEA (@vct_emea) March 20, 2026

Eternal Fire joins VCT EMEA

Replacing ULF is Eternal Fire, another Turkish organisation which has competed in tier two for a number of years. Their Challengers Türkiye side finished 5th in Kickoff and will be allowed to continue competing in Stage 1, acting as an academy team for the organisation’s tier one side.

While Riot Games’ statement explains that Eternal Fire will sign the entire ULF roster, two members, d3mur and struNN have in recent days announced their free agency. Additionally, s0pp, who was awaiting his 18th birthday in order to compete in Stage 1, is also thought to be on the move, according to Sheep’s reporting.

Riot’s announcement also revealed that the players were given the final say on which organisation was to replace ULF, with the players ability to continue competing the priority.

“Our priority following this decision was to ensure that the players — who earned their place in VCT EMEA — were able to continue competing in the league. To enable this, we provided the roster with the option to sign with a new organisation of their choice and compete for the remainder of the 2026 season.”