LEC Structure Changes 2025: What’s New for Fans and Teams

In 2025, the LEC (League of Legends EMEA Championship) is undergoing major structural changes aimed at increasing competitiveness, boosting fan engagement, and giving teams more opportunities for international competition. Here’s a breakdown of what’s changing in the LEC and how it will impact the season.

Traditional Format and Its Limitations

Previously, the LEC followed a two-split structure: spring and summer, with a break in between for the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI). At the end of the season, teams would compete for a chance to represent the region at the Worlds Championship. However, this structure limited international tournament participation and often left mid-tier and lower-tier teams without much gameplay time after the splits. The new format seeks to address these limitations.

New Format: Three Splits and a More Intense Season

Starting in 2025, the LEC is moving to a three-split format, allowing teams to play more games and participate in more tournaments.

1. Winter Split: Kicking Off the Season The season will begin with the Winter Split, lasting approximately two months. In this phase, teams will compete in a single round-robin format (best-of-one) to identify the strongest teams, who will then face off in the playoffs. The winners of the Winter Split will secure the first spot in an international tournament and claim the championship title.
2. Spring Split and MSI Qualifiers After the Winter Split, teams will move on to the Spring Split, where matches will be played in a best-of-three series format. The top teams in this stage will compete for a place in the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI). The best two teams from the Spring Split will earn their spot in MSI, giving players more chances to showcase their skills on a global stage.
3. Summer Split: Building Towards Worlds The final phase, the Summer Split, will serve as preparation for the World Championship. This stage will also feature best-of-three series and a more intense schedule, with top teams advancing to the Worlds qualifiers. The Summer Split adds additional excitement to the season, as teams fight for their place in the ultimate international showdown.

New Group Stage System

The LEC is also introducing a new group stage format, where teams are split into two groups after the initial rounds: Leaders and Contenders. This system allows for more balanced matches, with teams of similar skill levels playing each other more frequently. This change offers mid-tier and lower-tier teams more chances to grow by competing against similar-level opponents, while fans can enjoy closer, more competitive games.

Playoffs and Finals

At the end of the season, the playoffs will bring together the top teams from both groups to determine the LEC champion. This structure adds unpredictability and gives teams that may not have made the top rankings earlier in the season a chance to shine in decisive matches. The playoffs winner will also earn an automatic invitation to the World Championship, adding even more incentive for teams to give their all.

International Tournament Calendar

The LEC’s new structure also includes a revamped schedule for international tournaments. In 2025, the league will feature three major events:

• The first international tournament will be held at the end of the Winter Split.
• MSI, the major mid-season tournament, will take place in June, where teams compete for the regional title.
• Worlds, the season’s pinnacle event, has been rescheduled for October-November, giving teams more time to prepare for the grand finale.

What Does This Mean for Teams and Fans?

The new LEC format introduces more excitement and competition throughout the season, ensuring a higher number of matches and thrilling rivalries. Even mid-tier teams now have more opportunities to prove their skills across three splits, while fans can look forward to seeing top teams and emerging challengers clash more frequently. Increased international tournaments will also help European teams gain valuable experience, raising the region’s competitive level on the world stage.

Conclusion

The 2025 LEC structure changes are designed to create a more competitive, engaging league for teams and fans alike. The new format adds intrigue, brings more variety to the season, and provides more chances for teams to participate on the international stage. With an action-packed season, fans can look forward to seeing their favorite teams in action more often and enjoy a new level of excitement in the League of Legends EMEA Championship.

Additionally, there is an article detailing the changes to the LCK format for 2025 .