The LEC has faced heavy criticism throughout the Summer Split. Fans voiced frustration over both the competition format and schedule, as well as some players. This Friday, Artem Bykov, the LEC Commissioner, addressed the backlash directly, admitting the Summer format did not meet expectations and confirming it will not return next year.

When the Summer Split was introduced, organizers hoped to innovate by moving away from BO1 series, which many fans had grown tired of. Instead, the format leaned into BO3 in an effort to create more competitive and meaningful matchups. However, despite good intentions, the structure ultimately proved unpopular. Artem Bykov admitted: "Summer Split format didn’t land the way we hoped and we won’t bring it back next year. We’re also looking for ways to increase the number of competition days across the whole year in 2026.”

A format that failed to deliver

Beyond format issues, scheduling proved to be another significant challenge. Summer games were played on different days almost every weeks, and the breaks between playoffs matches and regular season is way too big, cutting the action for viewers, and potential momentum for every teams. All of these changes may have reduced the viewership and hurt the image of the league. He adds: "Monday and Tuesday weren’t fun for anyone, and while only 4 out of 23 LEC weeks this year are impacted by the VCT overlap, the few weeks in summer made the split feel off so far."

Despite the setbacks, the LEC is already looking to the future. Officials confirmed that the Summer format will not return in 2026. While no specific details have been shared yet, fans can expect updates in the weeks following the Summer Split. The league's Commissioner also expressed an interest in engaging more directly with its community through quick AMAs and open conversations on social media.

This public acknowledgment of their mistakes proves the LEC sees this as a learning opportunity, which can be seen as an encouraging sign in a league that has historically experimented with formats and structures.