North American League of Legends Players Reportedly Walk Out on Opening Day of LCS Summer Split
In a surprising turn of events, reports have emerged suggesting that the collective group of professional players in the North American League of Legends community will not be participating on opening day of the 2023 LCS Summer Split. This has led teams to seek alternative talent, including collegiate squads heading to Los Angeles.
Collegiate Teams Contacted by LCS Organizations for Opening Day
Nick Chiu, the team director of Saint Louis University, confirmed that his team and three other top collegiate squads were contacted by “a couple of LCS orgs” regarding opening day. This happened as the teams were set to compete in the Collegiate League of Legends Championship’s final four in Los Angeles.
The original plan was for the collegiate teams to stay in the city from May 31 to June 8 for the event. However, they have been approached to play as ringers for unspecified LCS organizations. Chiu took to social media to clarify that his team will not be playing for any LCS teams in the coming week.
Riot Games’ Decision Sparks Controversy and Backlash
This situation arose after Riot Games removed the mandatory requirement for all LCS organizations to have a tier-two roster. As a result, seven out of the ten teams in the league decided to pull out of the region’s Challengers League. This led to job losses for many players and staff members, raising concerns about the region’s path to pro.
In response to this, the LCS Players Association urged all LCS players to stand together against the decision in support of their fellow players and staff. The association presented a list of requests to Riot and reportedly garnered a majority vote for a league-wide walkout, leaving teams without players for the opening week of the season.
Possible Lockout as Resolution Negotiations Continue
The 2023 LCS Summer Split is scheduled to begin in just two days. However, with players across both tiers of play united, there is a possibility of a lockout until a resolution is agreed upon by Riot and the LCS Players Association.
League of Legends, LCS walkout, LCS Summer Split, esports news, North American League of Legends, Riot Games