Delays Plague the Start of the 2023 LEC Winter Split
Fans eagerly awaited the return of professional EMEA League of Legends with the start of the 2023 LEC Winter Split this past weekend. However, almost every game played in week one experienced delays, extending game days from five hours to over eight hours. This not only made it difficult for viewers but also forced players to endure longer hours than expected.
In a tweet today, LEC commissioner Artem Bykov explained that these delays were due to an internal issue that “didn’t appear during the rehearsals.” He assured fans that the LEC team will work throughout the week to find a permanent solution instead of relying on temporary fixes.
According to Bykov, the delays over the past few days were caused by an issue in firmware commonly used by professional players. Temporary measures are being used for now, but a permanent solution is being developed. Bykov expressed his gratitude for everyone’s patience.
The LEC is normally scheduled to take place on Saturdays and Sundays, with the possibility of Mondays for super weeks, from 11am CT to 4pm CT. However, this weekend’s games have added one to two or more hours to the schedule due to unexpected delays. During these delays, the analyst desk has provided content for fans and discussed the changes made to the LEC and its teams this split.
Perkz, mid laner for Team Vitality, expressed concern about the timing of the LEC, both with and without the delays, and how it may affect the new EMEA Champions Queue, set to debut tomorrow evening. While the delays this weekend may not be as prominent in the future, there is still worry about pro players having to stay up late for a week in order to participate in the most competitive League possible.
The 2023 LEC Winter Split will continue next week as the winter playoffs approach. The LEC is actively working on resolving the issues that caused delays this weekend, but it is uncertain if they will be fully resolved before the next weekend.