With the coming year, a lot will change for the participating teams in the LEC, but viewers will also be presented with new formats. An overview of all the important changes to the highest European league in League of Legends
New teams, new formats and lots of action.
Before the turn of the year, developer Riot Games has announced the changes for the upcoming LEC season and revealed what fans, spectators and teams can look forward to and prepare for.
Group stage and playoffs will be combined
The LEC season remains divided into three splits: Winter, Spring and Summer. Within these sections, however, there will now be changes in that the group stage and playoffs will be combined and played as a single element in future. The previous best-of-three and best-of-five series will remain, but Riot Games has installed corresponding failsaves so that there will be no double seeding in lower brackets. This means that teams that played against each other in the first Upper Bracket round will not compete against each other in the second Lower Bracket stage
Adjustments to the schedule
In order to give the teams a longer breather between splits, the break has been extended by one week. This also applies to the period between the Summer Split and the start of the Mid-Season Invitational. The “kick-off times” have also changed, so that the first game on the day of a broadcast will be kicked off at 05:00 (CET).
2024 LEC Season Changes: All you need to know!
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– LEC (@LEC) December 6, 2023
The Championship Points
In order to be able to participate in the World Championship at the end of a season, teams must be ranked accordingly high, have enough Championship Points or qualify directly for the World as the winner of the Summer Split. Riot Games has revealed some changes and adjustments to the Championship Points. From now on, fifth and sixth place will receive the same number of points, as will seventh and eighth place, while ninth and tenth place will go home empty-handed. The amount of Championship Points varies from split to split
Adjustment of the age limit
In consultation with the individual LEC teams, Riot Games has decided to raise the age limit for participating players from 17 to 18 for the coming season. This will enable the individual teams to tap into markets that were previously not possible due to the age limit. However, this change only affects the LEC, which is why national leagues, such as the Prime League, can continue to operate with a minimum age of 16.
The LEC starts the winter split and the new season at the end of January
