Should the LEC and LCS also introduce groups by level?
The LCK has Groups Legend and Rise for the top 5/bot 5, and the LPL has the same for the top 8/bot 4. So every game in the summer split is only within the group.
Every game in the LCK is a hype matchup in the top 5, and every game is unpredictable for both groups. Same-ish in the LPL, even though there's still some bad teams in Ascend.
In the LCS, you know that DIG/DSG/SR/SEN will not beat FLY/C9/TL/LYON. Those matches are boring, while those within the top 4/bot 4 are actually fun. Same in the LEC: after the week 1 roadshow, we're out of matches between G2/KC/MKOI, and while games like SK vs SHFT are actually fun because they're hectic, G2/KC against a bottom team is just a boring, complete stomp.
We know that upsets no longer happen in the LEC/LCS, not in 2026, not with BO3s. So I personally think those leagues would greatly benefit from also being split into two groups of level in Spring/Summer and playing a double (or triple) round robin within their group. Then, the best of the bottom group get a chance to fight the others in the playoffs.
Thoughts?
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Splitting LEC/LCS into upper/lower groups, then letting the best lower teams fight their way into the playoffs, sounds way better to me. You'd get a closer series without completely locking weaker teams out and I think that's awesome
Yeah, that's how it works in the LCK and LPL!
In the LCK, for example, the top 4 of the Legend (higher) group automatically qualify (with top 2 getting a round 2 bye). Last place goes to the play-in.
Top 3 of the Rise (lower) group go through the play-in as well, while the bottom 2 are eliminated.
So the higher group gets an easier path (through harder opponents) and the lower one can still qualify. At the same time, the higher group still has incentives to place higher to skip the play-in and potentially the round 1.