i would switch the predictions on furia and 100t... i feel like furia is a bit underestimated. 100t is anywhere between absolutely free and coinflip depending on the day

Eid Mubarak, everyone :)

they hated him because he spoke the truth

spot on!

Bleed for sure IMO

next to zero. c9 just got yay and also TenZ is SEN's golden goose, there's no way they'll let him go

SEN might not deserve it in terms of team performance, but the viewership speaks volumes. They're the most popular NA team not called OpTic after all, and they were one of the most viewed teams in VCT despite not qualifying for anything.

Plus, on a slightly brighter side for SEN, them making franchising would allow them to pick up some good players from the teams that didn't make it if said teams decide to release those good players. It would give SEN a chance to rebuild so they can at least try to get back to the form they were in before. But we'll see if that happens. I do think it's a coinflip whether they'll actually rebuild the team or whether they'll continue to make dubious choices for money and impressions.

i'm only just now learning about the carlos/tate stuff. big yikes.

we still don't know if G2 is getting into franchising in NA or EMEA though right? i think there's a higher chance nAts goes to Vitality but i'd be pleasantly surprised if it really is G2

it is unfair, but unfortunately there aren't many (if any) MENA teams that are big enough (financially or otherwise) that would probably make this first round. I can't name any off the top of my head and most other people probably can't either :/

i do hope the region could get a team together that could compete for a spot when franchising expands, some MENA rep would be good to see

Finally a W post. As someone from NA the amount of fellow NA-ers crying over not having enough team slots is embarrassing. 5 makes enough sense on its own (it's half the entire Americas league, after all), and Riot is supposedly going to expand the leagues each year meaning more chance of NA teams getting in anyway. LATAM getting two slots is sensible (KRU and LEV, or FUSION instead of LEV if they want a LATAM-North rep) and Brazil getting 3 (LOUD + FURIA + someone else, not sure) also makes sense.

??? what?

Just because certain big teams aren't making it into franchising doesn't mean the new teams won't be good. After all, the teams that made it in will probably try to buy out the good players from the teams that didn't make it in if they become free agents.

Say if FPX doesn't make it (just an example, I've no clue if FPX is in or not yet), it's very possible that Karmine or KOI buy them out considering they are still a good team after their runs at Champs and Masters.