Ground Zero Gaming Joins LCP as Guest Team for 2026 Season
Riot Games has officially announced that Australian esports organisation Ground Zero Gaming (GZ) will compete in the League of Legends Championship Pacific (LCP) starting in 2026. The team fills the vacancy left by the removal of PSG Talon and enters as one of the league’s five guest slots.
The decision follows PSG Talon’s expulsion from the LCP (and the broader Riot esports ecosystem) due to operational issues. Riot evaluated multiple applicants using criteria such as alignment with the sport’s values, regional representation, operational stability, long term sustainability, and competitive viability. Ground Zero Gaming emerged as the strongest candidate to maintain diversity and excitement in the league.
Beau Melia, founder and CEO of Ground Zero Gaming, expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity: “Being selected for the LCP is a huge milestone for Ground Zero Gaming and for our fans. After our success in the LCO and the opportunity to compete in the PCS, we’re thrilled to take the next step in our League of Legends journey and face some of the most accomplished teams in the region. We’re here to compete from day one.”
Ground Zero Gaming, a prominent name in Oceanic esports since 2016, previously dominated the LCO (League of Legends Circuit Oceania) before transitioning to the PCS (Pacific Championship Series) in 2025. As a Guest team representing the PCS region, GZ must adhere to LCP roster rules, requiring a majority of players from Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Macau.
A new contender enters the arena.
Welcome Ground Zero Gaming to the LCP 2026 season.https://t.co/5oUK6AJFgf pic.twitter.com/H83wbEtAK7
— LCP (@lolpacificen) December 22, 2025
Notably, their 2025 PCS roster featured primarily Taiwanese talent with few Australian players, suggesting a potential rebuild ahead of the LCP season. This move positions GZ as the sole representative from the Oceania (OCE) region in the upcoming Kickoff event.
The choice reflects regional balance considerations: Taiwan already boasts strong representation in the LCP, with about 25% of players in the 2025 Season Finals hailing from the country. This contrasts with VALORANT’s VCT Pacific league, where Thai team FULL SENSE replaced Talon to preserve local representation.
With this addition, the eight teams for the LCP 2026 Season Kickoff are now confirmed. The event kicks off on January 16, 2026, where teams will battle for the Pacific region’s spot at the international First Stand tournament.
Since: October 29, 2025
