New year, new format! And for 2025, there will be more than one. The LEC -
League of Legends' EMEA elite - is getting a makeover, with a host of changes for next year. While Winter is set to follow the same format as the 2024 splits with a few exceptions, Spring and Summer will take a very different form, with BO1s being replaced by BO3s. Next year, there will be no more Shields for each split, no more Season Finals, or Championship Points. Instead, there will be three splits for three trophies, each qualifying for the following international event (Spring = MSI / Summer = Worlds). But that's not all: as previously announced, a third international event will begin shortly after the Winter, with the LEC champion as the sole qualified from the EMEA region.
Other new features are to be expected. Starting with Riot's desire to bring the competitive scene closer to the game's real environment, by modeling LEC matches on the Live Patch whenever possible. What's more, the LEC is set to travel directly to its fans' home soils for certain matches. In fact, for the Spring Split, the league plans to prepare a Roadshow to bring the LEC to other countries, by agreeing with the concerned teams on the venue, likely for one or two matches. We can therefore probably expect an event in France and/or Spain featuring the Karmine Corp and/or MAD Lions KOI, although nothing has yet been officially announced and Riot could potentially try to get closer to smaller fanbases.
A different format for each split
Winter split
The competition will start on the 18th of January, with the Winter Split kick-off, which will basically feature the same format as each of the 2024 splits, despite a few minor additions. Firstly, the introduction of the
Fearless Draft, which will only take place in the Winter playoffs, according to Riot Games. Secondly, the qualification for a new international event, which seems to be taking place on a smaller scale than the other ones since, as announced above, only the Split champion (in LEC at least) will qualify for the tournament. More information on this subject should be revealed in November.
Winter regular season and playoffs. Credit: LEC
Spring split
From the Spring Split onwards the league will receive a fresh new look. First of all, the regular season will feature seven weeks of competition with nine BO3s for each team, which will all meet in this format. The top six teams emerging from these matches will meet in playoffs, in a double-elimination bracket played in BO5, as we know it today. The two Spring finalists will qualify for the MSI 2025, and the winner will take home the Split trophy. There will be no more BO1s from the Spring Split onwards.
Spring regular season and playoffs. Credit: LEC
Summer Split
In Summer, the ten LEC teams will be split into two groups, with each team playing four BO3s. At the end of this stage, the top two teams in each group will advance directly to the playoffs, while the last team in each group will be eliminated. The four mid-table teams will then be mixed together to see two duels between teams from different groups, and finally decide on the last two to reach playoffs.
Summer regular season and playoffs. Credit: LEC
The final stage will be another double elimination bracket in BO5, which will bring the LEC's competitive year to a close by awarding the final trophy of 2025 as well as the three Worlds spots allocated to the region. With Riot's decision to drop the Season Finals, it will be the last clashes of the Summer that will serve as the Finals roadshow in front of a live audience. The location and Venue will be revealed early next year.
