LEC announces format changes: Playoffs will now feature eight teams in a double-elimination bracket
Official Announcement of LEC Changes for the 2024 Season:
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The second stage group matches in the Winter, Spring, and Summer Splits have been eliminated. The top eight teams from the regular season will advance to the playoffs. The playoffs will follow a double-elimination format. The first two rounds of the winner's bracket and loser's bracket will be best-of-three (BO3), while the winner's bracket final, loser's bracket third round, loser's bracket final, and grand final will be best-of-five (BO5). Additionally, opponents from the first round of the winner's bracket will not meet again in the second round of the loser's bracket.
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The gap between the Winter Split and Spring Split, as well as between the Spring Split and MSI, will be extended by one week (now three weeks), whereas the gap between the Summer Split and the annual World Championship will be reduced by one week (now two weeks). Matches will start at 00:00 Beijing Time.
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Unlike the 2023 season, the points system for the Winter, Spring, and Summer Splits in 2024 will undergo changes. The adjusted points distribution is illustrated in the provided chart.
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The champion of the 2024 Summer Split will directly qualify for the 2024 World Championship, regardless of their performance in the annual finals. They will, at least, secure the lowest seed in the S14 Worlds. Additionally, the runners-up and third-placed teams in the Summer Split will directly qualify for the 2024 LEC annual finals, regardless of their performances in the Spring and Summer Splits.
(In the 2023 LEC annual finals, participating teams included the champions of the Winter, Spring, and Summer Splits, along with the top three in end-of-year points standings. In case a team won multiple splits, seeding followed the points rankings.)
- The minimum age for players allowed to compete in the LEC has been raised from 17 to 18 years old. However, the minimum age for players in the European Regional Leagues (ERLs) remains unchanged at 16 years old.
