For more than a decade, two major international events have dominated the League of Legends esports scene, namely the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) and the World Championships (Worlds). These events are highlights in the calendars of fans and professional players alike. But now there are indications that another LoL tournament will be introduced.
What kind of event? LoL is undoubtedly one of the most dominant titles in esports. With its huge fan base and high viewership at tournaments and events around the world, the game has an impressive global reach. A new record was recently broken in the LCK final with 2.6 million viewers.
According to Sheep Esports, Riot Games is set to add a third major international event to the LoL competitive calendar in 2025 (alongside MSI and Worlds). This new tournament is scheduled to take place between the Winter and Spring splits of the annual competition calendar.
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Future of LoL esports: Third major tournament planned
What does the whole thing look like? Although details such as the exact location, format and name of the tournament are not yet known, there are already initial indications of what the event could be like. Apparently one team from each major region (LEC, LCS, LCK, LPL) will be invited to this event. However, it remains unclear whether teams from smaller regions will also have the opportunity.
What could change the plan? The introduction of this new event could have far-reaching implications for LoL esports. There is speculation that the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) may be held later in the year in the future to make room for the new tournament. The time frame for the new event could probably be between March and April.
Furthermore, the new tournament could bring about significant changes in the various leagues around the world. For example, the LCS and LCK could switch to a 3-split format. In the LEC, 3 splits per year are already a reality. Similar adjustments could be expected across leagues to ensure a proper qualification path for the new tournament.
For the 2024 Summer Split, LCS will reportedly (Dot Esports) revert from Best of 1 to Best of 3.
When will there be further information? According to Sheep Esports, Riot Games has confirmed that there will be an update on the 2025 schedule in June 2024. So you’ll have to wait a little longer to find out whether and when the tournament could take place.
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