The competitive LoL scene is set to heat up in its 13th professional season, with Riot Games organizing a lot of major regional and international tournaments, as well as epic matches and plenty of excitement.
To stay ahead of the game, you need to be well-informed. That’s why we will guide you on the Riot Games eSports schedule in 2023, featuring the prestigious contests that you won’t want to miss.
Regional League Qualification
As usual, the competitive LoL season begins with regional splits, as teams from 9 major regions compete to represent their home country in international contests. Among these regions, China, South Korea, Europe, and North America stand out as particularly noteworthy.
The dates of the regional leagues will serve as a key part of the overall schedule for major LoL events throughout the year, and are sure to generate significant interest from fans around the world, including those who enjoy League of Legends esports betting.
As such, there are endless opportunities for bettors to wager on their favorite squads and players, adding an exciting new dimension to the competitive landscape of the game.
LPL Spring
- Date: Jan. 14 – March 26
- Location: China
- Arena: The Hub
- Teams: 17
With a remarkable 17 LPL teams set to participate in the upcoming thirteenth competitive season, the Chinese region stands out among the four major regions. The thirteenth competitive season will feature two splits in the spring and summer, with a prize pool exceeding $1,300,000, and teams will also be striving for qualification to the Worlds 2023.
The LPL Summer 2023 champion will receive a direct invitation to the main tournament, while two teams will qualify from regional finals, and the final spot for China will go to the leader of Championship points.
LCK Spring
- Date: Jan. 18 – March 19
- Location: Seoul
- Arena: LoL PARK
- Teams: 10
South Korea is expected to maintain its position as the center of competitive LoL in 2023, with the LCK hosting 10 teams contending for the strongest team title. Two LAN-format splits will be held in the spring and summer. The spotlight is currently on Kim “Canyon” Geon-bu from Dplus, who is widely known in the gaming and eSports community.
Although the total prize pool for the year in LCK will be around $650,000, the most significant reward will be a ticket to international events. In the spring, two LCK participants will head to London for the Mid-Season Invitational, while four representatives from South Korea will compete in the home world championship, Worlds 2023, at the end of the year.
LEC Winter
- Date: Jan. 21 – Feb. 26
- Location: Berlin
- Arena: LEC Studio
- Teams: 10
The European League of Legends has undergone significant changes this time. The LoL tournament schedule has been modified, dividing the competitive season into three parts: winter, spring, and summer.
The number of contestants in the 13th competitive circuit will remain the same, with 10 squads competing for a prize pool of around $270,000 and slots in international championships. Moreover, regional finals will be held in China and South Korea, where participating teams will be determined for the Worlds tournament.
LCS Spring
- Date: Jan. 26 – March 17
- Location: North America
- Arena: LCS Studio, NRG Stadium
- Teams: 10
The North American region will offer some exciting LoL matches this year following a schedule change in the LCS. The league’s contestants will now compete on Thursdays and Fridays, and the number of teams will remain the same.
Ten teams will compete for the total prize pool of $400,000 over the course of the year, with the added incentive of qualifying for the World Championship 2023. NA squads have not enjoyed much success at the Worlds tournament, so 2023 could potentially be a turning point for them.
Mid-Season Invitational
- Date: May 5 – 21
- Location: London
- Arena: Copper Box Arena
- Teams: 13
Format Changes
Recently, Riot Games shared new details, including precise dates, about the 13th season’s inaugural global event. The MSI 2023 is scheduled to commence on May 2, featuring a total of 13 teams battling it out across three phases.
The Play-In stage is slated to run from May 2 to May 7, with the Group stage following from May 9 to May 20. The grand finale will take place on May 21 at the Copper Box Arena.
For the first time in the tournament’s history, MSI 2023 will adopt a novel format. The initial two stages, Play-In and Group, will feature Double-Elimination brackets, representing a significant departure from previous formats.
Attendee List
Thirteen teams hailing from nine distinct regions are slated to participate in the forthcoming tournament. To kick off the event, the Play-In stage will showcase one team from each of the following regions: LPL, LEC, LCS, CBLOL 1, LJL Spring, LLA Opening, VCS Spring, and PCS Spring
Subsequently, the Playoffs will commence, and the two leading teams from LCK, LPL, LEC, and LCS will progress to the next phase. This format guarantees that the most skilled teams from every region will have an opportunity to vie for the coveted MSI championship title.
Ticket Price
While the exact reward money for MSI 2023 remains undisclosed, an official confirmation has been made regarding the commencement of ticket sales for the championship at the Copper Box Arena from February 23rd. Fans can secure their spots to witness the live event, with ticket prices ranging between $29 to $94.
Worlds 2023
- Date: May 5-21
- Location: London
- Arena: Copper Box Arena
- Teams: 13
Format Changes
The upcoming Worlds tournament will also introduce a new format, similar to MSI 2023. The tournament will include 22 teams, and the format will comprise three stages: Play-Ins, Swiss, and Knockouts. To enhance the competitive experience, Riot Games has introduced a new level of qualification known as the Worlds Qualifying Series.
In this series, the fourth seed from both LEC and LCSÂ will compete in a Bo5 match, with the winner securing a place at Worlds. The organizers have plans to expand the series to include more regions and teams in the future.
The team that finishes first in the WQS, along with the other 21 teams, will proceed to Korea to participate in the tournament. Eight of these teams will begin in the Play-In stage, and their seed brackets will be determined based on their region’s prior international performance.
Ticket Price
Tickets for Worlds 2023 are not presently accessible. Nonetheless, they are anticipated to be made available nearer to the occasion. Hence, it is recommended to stay attentive and monitor the schedules for LoL competitions to prevent overlooking matches that showcase your beloved teams.