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Riot delay start of LCS Summer Split 2023

After several days where there was a lot of speculation and, above all, concern, the professional LoL scene in... Eduardo | 31. May 2023

After several days where there was a lot of speculation and, above all, concern, the professional LoL scene in NA, the LCS, came to a standstill. As a result, Riot Games has decided to delay the start of the Summer Split 2023 by two weeks.

Recall that a few days ago, news broke that players decided to go on strike as a measure of support for all those colleagues who have been left without work after the departure of many NACL organizations. As a result, professional LCS players have decided to resign from their starting positions in each team in support.

Riot Games delays the start of the LCS Summer Split by two weeks

Through a statement on its official blog, Riot Games announced that the start of the LCS Summer Split 2023 is delayed by two weeks due to the ongoing player strike.

While this may be good news for fans and players, Naz Aletaha, in charge of LoL Esports, said the Summer Split would be delayed by two weeks maximum. Aletaha then added that if the player stoppage persists, delaying the start of the Split would be impossible, as a “legitimate competition” could not be organized. As a result, Riot Games would be forced to suspend the entire Summer Split.

Here’s the bad news: if this were to happen, the LCS would have no representatives for the upcoming Worlds 2023. Aletaha ended the statement by mentioning that this is not what Riot Games wants, but it is the only way to guarantee a fair, competitive system.

First players strike

What is currently happening in the LCS is unprecedented not only in the history of League of Legends but also in esports. It is the first time players join a strike to support each other.

This decision was prompted by the LCSPA, the LCS players’ association, after Riot removed a regulation in which LCS organizations were required to have lineups in the Challengers League. As a result, almost all organizations decided to drop these rosters and focus only on their core LCS teams.

However, last May 28, the LCSPA surveyed where 50 professional LCS players participated. In this survey, players were asked if they wanted to leave the league to protest Riot Games’ move on the NACL, and the players fully approved this.

As a result, Riot Games removed the rules about signing players according to rank to allow any player, regardless of their rank in the game, to play in the LCS. However, this did not proceed, and the decision had to be made to postpone the start of the LCS Summer League.

Now, with the LCS completely in limbo, it only remains to hope that Riot, the LCS, and the players’ association can reach an agreement that satisfies all parties to be able to carry out the rest of the season normally.

Header: Riot Games | LCS