KeSPA decides not to run English broadcast for 2019 Kespa Cup

The League of Legends esports community received disappointing news regarding broadcast accessibility for the upcoming KeSPA Cup 2019. Tournament organizers confirmed the event would proceed without English language coverage, creating significant barriers for international viewers.

Renowned LCK commentator Max “Atlus” Anderson publicly disclosed on social media that the Korean Esports Association made the controversial decision to prohibit English broadcasts entirely. Even more frustrating for fans, KeSPA extended this restriction to prevent independent English casters from organizing unofficial rebroadcasts from their personal studios, despite the absence of any official English-language alternative.

Global followers of Korea’s competitive League scene expressed widespread dissatisfaction with the announcement. Prominent community figures amplified these concerns, with Atlus subsequently engaging in Reddit discussions to emphasize the decision’s negative impact. He specifically thanked the vocal community response for potentially influencing future tournament planning to better accommodate English-speaking audiences.

“Our previous KeSPA Cup broadcast created wonderful holiday memories as we celebrated Christmas together while previewing new team compositions before the LCK season commenced,” Atlus explained. “The overwhelming support for English coverage demonstrates its importance, and I’m hopeful this collective voice ensures we’re not excluded from future events.”

LCK 2020 Rosters Make Competitive Debut at KeSPA Cup 2019

The fifth iteration of KeSPA Cup launches on December 23, 2019, featuring an expanded competitive format. Twenty professional teams will compete for a substantial ₩158,000,000 prize pool (approximately $136,000 USD), making it one of Korea’s most prestigious pre-season tournaments.

Half the participating squads represent organizations scheduled to compete in the LCK 2020 Spring Split, marking this event as the inaugural competitive appearance for these newly-formed rosters. The remaining ten teams qualified through various pathways including CK 2019 Summer performances, Challengers Korea Qualifiers, and the 2019 KeG Championship circuit.

The tournament structure grants four elite teams direct playoff berths based on accumulated Championship Points. These privileged positions go to Sandbox Gaming, Griffin, T1, and Damwon Gaming, who await opponents emerging from the elimination bracket stages.

Western audiences face limited options for following the KeSPA Cup action. The primary viewing method involves accessing Korean-language broadcasts, which presents language barriers for non-Korean speakers. However, dedicated fan communities typically provide real-time translation services and match discussions across various platforms.

Social media platforms, particularly Twitter and Reddit, become essential resources for English-speaking fans. Community-driven coverage often includes live updates, key moment highlights, and post-match analysis from knowledgeable sources. For those seeking comprehensive Complete Guide style coverage, several fan sites compile comprehensive results and analysis posts.

Proactive fans can enhance their viewing experience by preparing translation tools and following specific hashtags. The #KeSPACup2019 tag typically aggregates the most relevant content, while following team-specific accounts provides roster updates and behind-the-scenes content similar to detailed Weapons Unlock progression tracking in gaming guides.

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