Here are the LCS Lock In groups and full schedule

North America’s premier League of Legends competition launches its 2021 campaign with the inaugural LCS Lock In tournament, marking a significant format evolution for the region’s esports landscape. This groundbreaking event introduces a fresh competitive structure designed to maximize early-season excitement while providing teams essential preparation time.

Beyond serving as a competitive warm-up for the 2021 Spring Split, this tournament carries substantial stakes with a $150,000 prize awaiting the championship squad. The strategic drafting process has already generated compelling narrative threads that will unfold throughout the competition.

Riot Games established the group foundation by positioning Team SoloMid and FlyQuest as group anchors, recognizing their dominant performances during the 2020 LCS Summer Split. The selection methodology employed a strategic draft where TSM initiated the process by choosing opponents for the opposing bracket, creating fascinating competitive dynamics from the outset.

The group composition reveals intriguing strategic calculations, particularly TSM’s apparent preference for facing Team Liquid rather than confronting the newly assembled Cloud9 roster featuring international superstar Luka “Perkz” Perković. This decision-making process underscores the complex roster evaluation happening behind the scenes.

Both groups present formidable competitive challenges with balanced strength across all ten organizations. The drafting system theoretically ensures equitable distribution of talent, though actual performance remains unpredictable given extensive offseason transformations.

The recent player movement period has created unprecedented roster volatility across the entire LCS ecosystem. Every single competing organization has implemented personnel changes, elevating the importance of rapid team cohesion development. Success will likely hinge on which squads can fastest establish effective communication patterns and strategic coordination.

What are the LCS Lock In groups?

The tournament structure divides participants into two five-team brackets competing in round-robin group stages. Qualification criteria advance the top four teams from each group into the knockout phase, with seeding determined by group stage performance metrics.

The 2021 LCS Lock In groups are: 

Group A

• Team SoloMid
• Team Liquid
• 100 Thieves
• CLG
• Golden Guardians

Group B 

• FlyQuest
• Cloud9
• Evil Geniuses
• Dignitas
• Immortals

The LCS Lock In kicks off on January 15, starting out with a match between TSM and 100 Thieves. 

Complete match schedules and broadcast details are available through the official Lolesports platform, providing comprehensive viewing options for dedicated fans.

When does the LCS Lock In start?

Competition commences January 15 and continues through January 31, featuring an intense four-day group stage designed to test team endurance and adaptability. The condensed timeline creates immediate pressure for organizations to perform at competitive levels despite limited preparation time.

Following the tournament conclusion, the standard LCS spring season immediately begins, where all franchises will compete for qualification to international events including the Mid-Season Invitational and ultimately the 2021 World Championship.

Successful teams typically focus on establishing clear shot-calling hierarchies during these early tournaments. Many organizations struggle with role definition during initial competitions, leading to coordination breakdowns in high-pressure situations. Establishing primary and secondary communicators within the first few matches can dramatically improve team performance.

Common preparation mistakes include over-scrimming before the event, resulting in player burnout, and failing to develop contingency strategies for different champion select scenarios.

Advanced viewing strategy involves tracking specific player pairings and their lane dynamics, particularly for newly formed duos. Observing how teams handle early game pressure and mid-game transitions provides valuable insights into their seasonal potential. For those looking to deepen their understanding of competitive strategies, our Class Guide provides excellent frameworks for understanding role specialization.

Optimization for serious esports enthusiasts includes creating matchup comparison charts and tracking objective control percentages. These metrics offer deeper analytical perspectives beyond simple win-loss records. To master competitive gameplay mechanics, explore our comprehensive Complete Guide for comprehensive competitive insights.

Time estimates for team synergy development suggest most organizations require 15-20 professional matches to establish cohesive teamfighting patterns. The most successful teams often demonstrate improved coordination around neutral objectives by the tournament’s knockout stage.

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