League Championship Series

League Championship Series
KennethHan · Public domain · source
Title	League Championship Series
Current season	2024 LCS season
Sport	League of Legends
Founded	2013
Ceo	Jack Etienne
Commissioner	Mark Zimmerman
Champion	NRG Esports
Most champs	Team SoloMid (7 titles)
Related comps	Mid-Season Showdown, LCS Lock In

League Championship Series. The League Championship Series is the premier professional League of Legends league in North America, operating under the auspices of Riot Games. It is one of the major regional leagues within the global League of Legends esports ecosystem, with its top teams qualifying for the annual World Championship. The league has been a central pillar in the development of professional esports in the region, featuring iconic organizations, players, and moments since its inception.

Overview

The league functions as the highest level of competition for North American League of Legends teams, forming a core part of Riot Games's international competitive structure alongside other major regions like the League of Legends Champions Korea and the League of Legends European Championship. Competition is held in a studio environment, historically in Los Angeles, California, with matches broadcast live on platforms like Twitch and YouTube. The LCS ecosystem also includes the amateur North American Challengers League, which serves as a developmental pathway, and its teams are often owned by prominent esports organizations such as Cloud9 and Team Liquid.

History

The league was established by Riot Games in 2013, replacing the prior NA LCS circuit and creating a formalized franchise model. Key early figures in its operation included commissioners like Dustin Beck and influential team owners such as Andy Dinh of Team SoloMid. The league underwent significant structural changes, including a franchise system implemented in 2018 that moved away from promotion and relegation, with initial partners including 100 Thieves and Golden Guardians. Landmark moments include the 2016 championship run by Counter Logic Gaming and the international success of Cloud9 at the 2018 World Championship.

Format

The competitive year is split into two main splits: the Spring Split and the Summer Split, each culminating in a double-elimination playoff tournament known as the Mid-Season Showdown and the LCS Championship, respectively. The regular season employs a double round-robin format where all eight teams play each other twice, with matches being best-of-one contests. Seeding for the postseason is determined by regular-season standings, and the winner of the Summer Championship earns the region's first seed at the Worlds tournament, while championship points from both splits help determine additional qualifiers.

Participating teams

The league currently features eight permanent partner teams. Long-standing franchises include Cloud9, Team SoloMid, and Team Liquid, organizations that have been involved since the league's early seasons. Other notable member teams are Evil Geniuses, FlyQuest, and Dignitas, with Immortals and 100 Thieves also holding slots. These organizations maintain player rosters composed of both North American talent and imported players from other regions like South Korea and Europe, under rules governed by the LCS residency policy.

Champions

Team SoloMid holds the record for the most championship titles, with seven, including three consecutive wins during the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Other multiple-time winners include Cloud9 and Team Liquid, the latter achieving a historic four-peat between 2018 and 2019. Recent champions include 100 Thieves in the 2021 Summer Split and Evil Geniuses in the 2022 Spring Split. The 2023 Summer Championship was won by NRG Esports, marking a significant victory for the organization. Each championship team is awarded the LCS trophy and a substantial prize pool.

Records and statistics

Individual records are held by legendary players such as Søren "Bjergsen" Bjerg for most career kills and Yiliang "Doublelift" Peng for most total appearances and championships won. The longest consecutive playoff appearance streak is held by Cloud9, while Team Liquid owns the record for the longest single-split winning streak. In terms of international performance, North America's best results at the World Championship include semifinal finishes by Cloud9 in 2018 and Team SoloMid at the inaugural Season 1 World Championship, alongside a runner-up finish at the 2019 Mid-Season Invitational by Team Liquid. Category:League of Legends competitions Category:Esports leagues in the United States Category:2013 establishments in California