Riot Games has officially confirmed a significant restructuring for the League of Legends competitive scene in the Americas, with the merger of the LCS, LLA, and CBLOL leagues into the new Americas League set to debut in 2025.
This merger comes with exciting changes, including the introduction of three splits per year and a Fearless Draft system to keep the competition fresh and unpredictable.
Key Changes in the Americas League
Three-Split Format
The Americas League will follow a similar structure to Europe’s LEC, running three splits annually. This offers more opportunities for teams to prove themselves across multiple phases of the competitive season.
North and South Conferences:
The league will be split into two conferences:
- North Conference based in Los Angeles at the Riot Games Arena.
- South Conference based in São Paulo, Brazil, at the CBLOL Arena. Both conferences will have synchronized schedules and formats but will be based in different regions to ensure local fan engagement.
Fearless Draft System:
One of the standout features of the new league is the Fearless Draft rule, which will debut in the first split. Under this rule, teams will not be able to pick the same champion more than once throughout a series.
This forces teams to innovate their strategies and draft a wider range of champions, adding diversity and excitement to the competition. The system, previously tested in China’s LDL and North America’s Challenger League, will bring a new layer of strategic depth to the pick-ban phase.
LAN Events and Global Tournaments:
The two conferences will face off twice a year at LAN events, where they’ll compete for slots in major international tournaments like the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) and the World Championship. Split One will end with a cross-conference competition, while Split Two will determine representatives for MSI.
Aggressive Split Three Format:
The third split will feature a best-of series every week, leading to a high-stakes, fast-paced competition as teams vie for three available slots for the World Championship 2025. Two teams from each conference will automatically qualify, but the third slot will be up for grabs in a tense cross-conference showdown.
Regional Championship Roadshow:
The final event of the year will be a Regional Championship, hosted in a different location across the Americas each year. This will conclude the competitive year and crown the top team in the region before they head to the global stage.
Key Features of the Americas League 2025
- Three competitive splits for more engagement and opportunities.
- Fearless Draft system for innovative and strategic drafting.
- North and South conferences to represent different parts of the region.
- Cross-conference LAN events that will determine the best teams for MSI and Worlds.
- A best-of series format in Split Three to bring intense weekly action.
- Three Worlds slots with two conference champions and a wildcard slot.
Conclusion
The formation of the Americas League marks a major evolution for competitive League of Legends in the Western hemisphere. With three splits, new strategic drafting rules, and high-stakes LAN events, Riot Games is set to deliver an exciting and fresh experience for both players and fans.
This new format will elevate the level of competition and offer a dynamic path to international tournaments like MSI and Worlds.
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