Shanghai Court Orders RNG and Founder to Pay ¥162 Million

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Court Mandate

RNG and its founder must pay ¥162 million RMB.

The Shanghai First Intermediate People’s Court ordered Royal Never Give-Up (RNG) and Yao “Baixing” Jincheng to pay ¥162,118,224 RMB, or $22.5 million USD.

Market Shift

RNG, once a dominant LPL force, now faces potential acquisition interest.

The organization previously set industry standards for commercial success and competitive achievement in the Chinese esports market, with major sponsors like Mercedes-Benz and Nike.

Organizational Shift. RNG, historically a dominant LPL force and commercial leader, is now facing potential acquisition interest for its LPL franchise slot.

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Summary

The Shanghai First Intermediate People’s Court has issued a significant legal mandate requiring the prominent Chinese esports organization Royal Never Give-Up (RNG) and its founder, Yao “Baixing” Jincheng, to pay ¥162,118,224 RMB, approximately $22.5 million USD. The court executed this order on June 18, 2025, identifying the organization as a judgment debtor. While the specific nature of the underlying dispute remains undisclosed, the ruling marks a critical escalation in the financial instability currently facing the organization.

This judgment is reportedly the first of at least 10 pending legal actions against the entity, which involve allegations of contract violations, loan defaults, and unpaid wages. Industry insiders suggest that the total liability across these various disputes could potentially exceed ¥1 billion RMB, or $140 million USD, indicating that the current court order may represent only a fraction of the organization's total financial exposure.

Once a dominant force in the League of Legends Pro League (LPL) and a highly commercialized brand with extensive corporate partnerships, RNG is now facing severe operational uncertainty. The organization, founded in 2018 and majority-owned by Yao Jincheng, is currently the subject of acquisition interest from multiple parties looking to secure its LPL franchise slot. The situation highlights a broader decline for a team that previously set industry standards for commercial success and competitive achievement in the Chinese esports market.