100 Thieves Says Goodbye to League of Legends - End of Eight-Year Era Including Freeze

100 Thieves is ending their eight-year League of Legends journey after the 2025 season. The organization already sold their LCS slot and is playing this year only as a guest team. Their history includes players like Ssumday, FBI, and Czech coach Aleš "Freeze" Kněžínek.

The End of a North American Esports Era

After eight years on the North American LCS scene, the end has come. 100 Thieves officially confirmed that 2025 will be their final season in League of Legends. While many expected this decision since last year's permanent slot sale, it's now official – one of NA's most prominent organizations is leaving.

The 100 Thieves story in League of Legends began in 2018 like a fairy tale. In their debut year, they reached the LCS finals, which was absolutely incredible. Three years later, in 2021, came the pinnacle – winning the LCS championship. Between these moments, however, many dramatic twists unfolded, including the turbulent 2022 year when the team was led by Czech coach Aleš "Freeze" Kněžínek.

The organization already sold their permanent LTA slot in 2024 and is competing this year only as a guest team. It was clear this was a temporary solution.

Stars Who Passed Through 100 Thieves

Over eight years, several North American esports legends passed through the team. Ssumday, the Korean top lane icon, FBI, the Australian marksman who became the face of the organization, and Abbedagge and Closer – all left their mark. We can't forget legendary coach Zikz, who shaped the team's strategy during their most successful years.

An interesting chapter was 2022, when Aleš "Freeze" Kněžínek served as head coach – the only Czech to ever lead 100 Thieves in this position. It was a turbulent year full of changes, but Freeze earned respect both within the organization and throughout the North American community.

Why 100 Thieves Is Really Leaving

The answer is pragmatic: money and future prospects. Running an LCS team is extremely expensive, and return on investment is declining. The organization addressed this last year by selling their permanent slot, which was a clear signal. Riot Games also chose a different long-term partner for the league's future.

At the same time, 100 Thieves has a strong VALORANT team with a growing fanbase and better marketing opportunities. It's simply a smarter business decision – investing in a game with a younger audience and growing potential.

The Last Dance in 2025

The current roster – Sniper, River, Quid, FBI, and Eyla – has the task of ending this era with dignity. The organization promised a "farewell in grand style" during the rest of the season, which is definitely worth watching. FBI, who is the only remaining face from the golden years, will have to carry the weight of the entire farewell.

The question remains what will happen to the players after the season ends. FBI definitely has the quality for another LCS engagement, while younger players like Sniper or Quid will need to prove their worth. The organization promised to help everyone find new teams.

What This Means for LCS and Esports Generally

100 Thieves' departure is another warning for North American League of Legends. It's not the first major organization to leave LCS due to finances and declining viewership. Riot Games will need to come up with better solutions, or they'll lose more big brands.

For the Czech community, this marks the end of an interesting chapter. While Freeze only worked at 100T for one year, it was symbolic – a Czech in the head coach position at one of the world's most visible organizations. His experiences from this period certainly influenced his later career and the entire Czech coaching scene.

The Legacy That Remains

Even though the farewell is sad, 100 Thieves leaves a strong legacy in League of Legends. They showed how to combine a lifestyle brand with competitive esports, how to build community around a team, and how to handle both failures and victories. Their academy program developed dozens of talents for the entire region.

The 2021 championship will remain in history forever, and Freeze can be proud that he was part of this organization during a time when it was searching for its new identity. The current players will get a chance to finish the story in style – and that's perhaps the best we can hope for.

FAQ

Q: When exactly will 100 Thieves end in LoL?
A: After the 2025 season ends – the organization will cease all League of Legends activities.

Q: What will happen to players like FBI?
A: The organization will help everyone find new teams. FBI has good chances for another LCS engagement.

Q: How long did Freeze work at 100 Thieves?
A: Aleš "Freeze" Kněžínek was head coach during the 2022 season.

Q: Why focus on VALORANT?
A: VALORANT has a younger audience, better growth potential, and more cost-effective operations.

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