The esports industry is intense, and so are some personalities within the scene. In a two-hour long exposè video, esports journalist Thorin seems to prove this. In a video, he called out pro-player Martin “Rekkles” Larsson as one of esports’ “hidden villains. This is now the most recent controversy in the League of Legends community. What is the Thorin and Rekkles issue about?
What Caused the Controversy?
Beyond games and tournaments, there are clashes that happen regardless of being broadcasted or kept behind closed doors. For well-known esports journalist Duncan “Thorin” Shields, however, openly criticizing and calling out esports industry names has never been a scary thing. He had always shared his opinions regarding Rekkles as a player in the LEC and later on, LCK Challengers’ League.
There are a gang of industry people know Rekkles diva stories. They don’t keep them private out of love; like with TSM they know if you say anything a legion of morons will descend on your social media.
I just don’t care.
— Thorin (@Thorin) May 28, 2023
Thorin then began commenting about Rekkles’ alleged “diva” attitude in 2023. The followed this up with a huge revelation. He made an X (formerly Twitter) post on February 5, 2025. Then, he uploaded the YouTube video on the same day, entitled “Rekkles Is a Narcissistic Diva and a Terrible Team-Mate.” Released to the channel’s 245,000 subscribers, it centered on Rekkles’ behavior both in and out of the game.
Rekkles is one of the most famous names in the history of Western esports, but you don’t know him like the people who were around him.
This is the shared testimony of players, coaches and organisation figures around Rekkles from 2012-2023. pic.twitter.com/gFKiPzkpeU
— Thorin (@Thorin) February 4, 2025
Thorin’s Accusations
In the video, Thorin shared stories of multiple unknown sources about working with Rekkles from 2012 to 2023. Most were about being a “KDA player”, stubbornly refusing to play certain champions, and being an uncooperative and uncommunicative teammate. He allegedly also only cared about his own image, and even contributed to staff departures.
The community quickly questioned Thorin’s and his sources’ credibility saying that not enough proof was in the video. Thorin however stated that he did not reveal his sources on purpose as they were hesitant to speak because of this very type of backlash. Thus, he took it upon himself to reveal the Rekkles issue to the public.
Rekkles’ Response
Upon the video’s teaser post, Rekkles admitted during a Twitch stream that he feels uneasy about it. He said that he will not watch the video nor the teaser as it brings him extreme anxiety. Rekkles has been open about having mental health issues, for which he struggled getting support in the majority of his career.
The Support player also cancelled an upcoming scrim with his current team Los Ratones after the stream. The team’s manager Caedrel subbed in for the role, but the decline in Los Ratones’ performance was noticeable.
Community Reactions
After the video was posted, numerous professional players have stepped forward to defend their colleague. This is in addition to an overwhelming majority of the community who negatively reacted to the video.
Some League fans point out that Thorin has a clear track record ever since he started covering esports events and issues. This means that there might be some truth to the matter, if the video isn’t entirely true. However, Rekkles’ former teammate from CPH Wolves even released screenshots that question Thorin’s claim thorough and professional journalism about the Rekkles issue.
I did not watch the @Thorin video but this is not how you conduct an inbiased journalistic research, heavy bias showing. Dont pay attention to the haters @RekklesLoL, keep going strong! pic.twitter.com/cdg0mzxHRw
— Petar Georgiev (@Unlimited_EUW) February 7, 2025
Pro-players Bwipo and Broxah also shared positive experiences working with Rekkles in FNatic, emphasizing his genuine nature and dedication to the sport. T1 CEO Joe Marsh spoke, too, saying that far from the young Rekkles who was the subject of most allegations, the Rekkles who came to T1 was a “fantastic person and teammate.”
The rumors about @RekklesLoL and me disliking each other and having a poor relationship needs to stop. We have a lot of mutual respect towards each other, as well as always sharing advice and showing support when necessary. A world where we would fight simply doesn’t exist.
— Liquid Broxah (@BroxahLoL) February 6, 2025
Many fans have also pointed out that Thorin’s criticism feels unfair, and the Rekkles issue needs to be viewed through a more nuanced lens. Perhaps, considering Rekkles’ autism diagnosis and the fact that some allegations date back to when he was just 15 years old can paint a bigger picture.
Conclusion
What do you think of the Rekkles issue? The pro-player has been widely loved by many, from his career peak in the LEC to his LCK CL and Worlds 2024 stint with T1. Now, in Los Ratones, he has also been receiving tremendous support. Thorin’s accusations paint him in another light, possibly altering people’s opinions if proven true. While Los Ratones have yet to address the controversy, it’s the community that are backing the team’s Support for now.
