LEC 2023 Rumours
The off-season has yet to begin, but there are already rumours circulating around huge changes coming to the LEC next year. A press conference has been confirmed to take place on November 18th, where Riot may announce some drastic changes to the LEC's format.
Here's a quick overview of the rumours:
- 3 splits throughout the year are shorter than current splits
- Regular seasons featuring best-of-1s end after 3 weeks
- After the regular season, the 9th and 10th place teams will be eliminated for the rest of the split
- The remaining teams will compete in a GSL-style tournament in best-of-3 games
- The top 4 teams qualify for play-offs, featuring best-of-5 games
Implications
Fans have been demanding a shift to regular season best-of-3s for years, so that Western teams can mirror the amount of games played in the LCK and LPL. However, there are two big concerns with so many matches during a regular season:
- Burnout for pros and viewers
- Unenjoyable viewer experience with so many games between top & bottom teams
These rumoured changes can rectify these issues with shorter splits and best-of-3s starting after a couple of weeks. Additionally, with the 9th and 10th placed teams being eliminated early on, the remaining teams should produce a higher quality of games for viewers to enjoy.
This will also require teams to start off the season strong, else risk being eliminated. Teams have often gotten a free pass for starting slow but ramping up over the course of the split, but will now have to come out of the gates swinging.
We may see a lot more roster swaps for the 9th and 10th placed teams, who won't have the luxury of a 9-week split to prove they deserve a spot in the LEC.
Summary
The LCK and LPL dominance at Worlds has proved the gap has never been bigger between the East and West, and drastic change must be taken in order for the LEC and LCS to catch up. This requires changes from the competitiors and Riot themselves.
Giving pros more opportunities to play on stage with a higher level of competition could be the first step to the gap shrinking. The shorter split should also be a welcome change to fans, with each game feeling more meaningful and the middle of the split feeling less of a drag.
Keep your eyes peeled on November 18th to see what the LEC announces!