Los Ratones are the EMEA Masters Winter Split champions after defeating Ici Japon Corp Esport — in their first split, LR won the NLC and went on to dominate the EMEA Masters Grand Finals 3-0. The team, formed by Marc "Caedrel" Lamont ahead of this competitive season, has won tournament they've entered so far. Not even the LFL's second seed, from the strongest ERL, stood a chance.

A one-sided final

The final began with a challenging draft for Los Ratones, putting them in a tough position against Ici Japon Corp. On paper, IJC had the upper hand and looked set to take the first game of the series. Even after LR secured the dragon soul, IJC looked poised to win. Still, LR remained composed, navigating the game patiently and capitalizing on their opponents' mistakes to turn the tide in their favor. Juš "Crownie" Marušič delivered a standout performance on Jhin, dealing enough damage to dismantle IJC and secure a crucial Game 1 victory.

Game 2 was the bloodiest of the series, with Los Ratones opting for a first-pick Vi, capitalizing on its flexibility — either Simon "Baus" Hofverberg or Veljko "Velja" Čamdžić could pilot the champion. In the end, Velja took it to the jungle, while the Swedish toplaner opted for Cho'Gath. Meanwhile, Martin "Rekkles" Larsson played a pivotal role on Rakan, participating in 23 of his team’s 26 kills as LR extended their lead in the series.

The final game seemed to be in IJC's hands, as they built a significant gold lead and had every opportunity to force a Game 4. Theo "Theocacs" Sauda’s took over the early game on Lillia, fueling hope for a comeback — for a moment, it looked like the reverse sweep could begin. However, Baus’s Gragas proved to be a major obstacle, and Tim "Nemesis" Lipovšek’s Tristana relentlessly tore through IJC’s defenses — even chasing them back to their fountain. With that final push, Los Ratones secured the EMEA Masters title.

Baus’s first professional experience has blown far past expectstions — the 25-year-old streamer, known as a Sion one-trick with unconventional "inting" strategies, has silenced his doubters. He’s proven that the gap between solo queue and the pro scene can be bridged, making a strong case for his legitimacy as a professional player.

For Velja, this was a golden opportunity, and he seized it perfectly. Having previously bounced between minor ERLs without much success, he now finds himself at the top of the European Tier 2 scene, significantly boosting his visibility and reputation. Meanwhile, Nemesis marked his return to professional play after more than four years away — his last appearance dates back to Worlds 2020 with Fnatic. He was always a prodigy, and continued to dominate solo queue around the world during his break, but his EMEA Masters run has been a nostalgic reminder of his near-unparalleled skill — leaving many hoping for his return to the LEC.

A well-known botlane

Crownie, too, came back from a break — having left BDS after a rough Worlds 2023. He re-entered the scene to form a botlane duo with Rekkles, who himself had just returned from Korea. After transitioning to support, Rekkles had an underwhelming stint with T1 Academy in terms of results but gained valuable experience in his new role. Now back in Europe, he first conquered the North before claiming the EMEA crown.

With Los Ratones' victory, discussions and speculation about a potential LEC entry (at least for some of its players) have taken off. The interest is undeniable — 270,000 viewers tuned into Caedrel’s stream at the moment of their triumph, staggering numbers for an ERL team, only rivaled by the likes of Karmine Corp.