Chinese Court Orders Former RNG Star Liu “MLXG” Shiyu to Pay $3.5M to RNG Over Streaming Dispute

The Jiangxi Shangrao Intermediate People’s Court has issued an enforcement ruling requiring former professional League of Legends player Liu “MLXG” Shiyu to pay 25 million RMB, approximately $3.48 million USD, to the esports organization Royal Never Give-Up (RNG). This judgment follows a protracted legal battle involving a livestreaming agreement between the player and the organization.

The dispute originated when Shiyu initiated legal action against RNG, seeking 3 million RMB in unpaid compensation. RNG responded with a countersuit, alleging that Shiyu breached his contractual obligations by failing to meet the required monthly minimum of live broadcast hours on the streaming platform Huya. The court’s final ruling mandates that Shiyu compensate the organization for approximately 6 million RMB in streaming fees withheld by Huya due to the breach, in addition to liquidated damages, interest, and associated legal costs.

This development occurs during a period of significant financial instability for RNG, as the organization’s operating company recently faced a separate court order to pay 162 million RMB, or roughly $22.5 million USD. Shiyu has publicly rejected the court’s decision and announced his intention to appeal the ruling to China’s Supreme People’s Court. The case highlights the complex legal and financial tensions surrounding player-organization contracts within the Chinese esports industry.