TL;DR
- FACEIT and Riot Games partner for 2019 LCS Scouting Grounds Circuit
- Three-month tournament with $60,000 prize pool and dual qualification paths
- Top teams qualify through circuit while individuals advance via solo queue performance
- Partnership aims to strengthen North American amateur League of Legends ecosystem
- Selection process begins June 12 with main event scheduled for November 11-16
In a landmark move for competitive gaming infrastructure, FACEIT has joined forces with Riot Games to launch the 2019 LCS Scouting Grounds Circuit. This collaboration represents a significant investment in developing domestic League of Legends talent through structured competitive pathways.
Beginning in July, registered amateur squads gain access to compete for coveted positions at the LCS Scouting Grounds main event. Teams will battle not only for prestige but also for a share of the substantial $60,000 prize pool, creating meaningful stakes for aspiring professionals.
The comprehensive tournament framework spans three months of competitive play, organized into ten distinct online competitions. This extended format provides multiple opportunities for teams to demonstrate consistency and growth throughout the circuit.
The two highest-performing organizations from the circuit will secure their place at Scouting Grounds, scheduled for November 11-16 at the LCS studio located in California. The venue offers competitors exposure to professional environments and infrastructure.
FACEIT and Riot are strategically aligning with numerous amateur leagues that will transition to FACEIT’s specialized matchmaking servers. This consolidation creates a unified competitive ecosystem with standardized rules and consistent player experience across all participating organizations.
“Our strategic alliance with FACEIT to deliver the Scouting Grounds Circuit enables elite amateur organizations to qualify for our talent identification event through the traditional ‘5 players and a dream’ approach that characterized our historic Open Qualifier and Promotion Tournaments,” explained LCS commissioner Chris Greeley, highlighting the return to grassroots qualification methods.
“We’re excited to collaborate with Riot Games and contribute to the evolution of one of North America’s most vibrant competitive landscapes in League of Legends,” stated FACEIT co-founder and CEO Michele Attisani, emphasizing the platform’s commitment to competitive ecosystem development.
The circuit’s primary objective involves injecting fresh domestic talent into the LCS pipeline. Individual competitors can earn qualification to Scouting Grounds through demonstrated excellence in solo queue performance, with the evaluation period commencing on June 12.
This season introduces stricter selection criteria where only the two most outstanding performers in each specific role will automatically secure their invitation to the event. Additional roster positions will be allocated to players who successfully qualify through the Scouting Grounds Circuit tournament series, creating balanced team compositions.
The dual-path qualification system addresses a common mistake where teams focus exclusively on either team play or individual performance rather than balancing both aspects of competitive development.
For optimization, advanced players should maintain consistent performance across both team competitions and solo queue, as selection committees evaluate comprehensive skill sets rather than isolated achievements.
Action Checklist
- Register your amateur team on FACEIT platform before July deadline
- Develop balanced practice schedule incorporating both team scrims and individual skill refinement
- Participate in minimum 3 of the 10 online circuit events
- Analyze role-specific competition and identify top two ranking targets
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » LCS Scouting Grounds Circuit arrives, partnering Riot and FACEIT How FACEIT and Riot Games are revolutionizing North American League of Legends talent development through the 2019 Scouting Grounds Circuit