Riot Games Reveals Changes to European League of Legends Competitive Ecosystem
Riot Games has announced significant changes to the European League of Legends competitive ecosystem, which will have a major impact on the region and provide a new path for LEC teams to qualify for the World Championship.
Beginning in 2023, the LEC will introduce three seasons instead of two, including the addition of the Winter Split. This new system will reward excellence and dominance. If a team manages to win the Winter, Spring, and Summer splits consecutively, they will automatically qualify for Worlds that year.
Winter Split, Spring Split, and Summer Split
The Winter Split will run from the start of the year until February and will be followed by the Winter Playoffs. Shortly after the Winter Playoffs, the Spring Split will begin in March and end with playoffs in April.
Following the Mid-Season Invitational, the Summer Split will kick off in June and end in July. Throughout the competitive circuit, three seasonal champions will be crowned, with each one earning automatic qualification for the new Season Finals at the end of the year. Winning multiple championships also comes with additional incentives:
- One split won: Auto-qualify for the end-of-year Season Finals
- Two splits won: Guaranteed double elimination in Season Finals
- All splits won: Auto-qualify for the World Championship
New Opportunities for Dominant Teams
While the current competitive landscape is highly competitive, reminiscent of G2 Esports’ historic King of Europe era when they won four championships in a row from 2019 to 2020, there is still the possibility of another team dominating the competition and heading into Worlds as the top team in the league.
These changes to the LEC format will transform the outlook of the European League of Legends scene, creating more excitement and opportunities for teams to showcase their skills on the international stage.
Related: [Link to the Related Article on Europe’s New Look in 2023]
Riot Games, European League of Legends, LEC, World Championship, Winter Split, Spring Split, Summer Split, Season Finals, competitive circuit