TL;DR
- 2020 LCS expands to three broadcast days with Academy Rush on Fridays and Monday Night League
- Double elimination playoffs replace Regional Qualifier system for Worlds qualification
- Spring split focuses on roster development while summer determines Worlds seeding
- New format provides more opportunities for academy players to showcase skills
- Best-of-five playoff matches increase competitive integrity and viewer engagement
Riot Games has completely redesigned the competitive framework for the 2020 LCS season, implementing structural changes that affect every aspect of North American League of Legends. The comprehensive overhaul introduces additional broadcast days, extends playoff duration, and fundamentally changes how teams qualify for international tournaments.
With the regular season commencing in late January, North American esports enthusiasts now possess complete visibility into the 2020 LoL Championship Series Spring format. These modifications establish an entirely new qualification pathway to the 2020 World Championship, creating more strategic depth throughout the competitive year.
Academy Rush and Monday Night League are new shows for 2020 LCS
Competition launches on January 24 featuring Academy Rush, an innovative Friday program showcasing four academy matches simultaneously, followed by a concluding match immediately afterward. Beyond dedicating Fridays exclusively to the 2020 NA Academy League, academy squads also secure broadcast slots following LCS events on Saturdays and Sundays, plus three studio matches preceding Monday Night League broadcasts.
Monday Night League represents another fresh programming initiative Riot has implemented this season, extending the weekly LCS schedule to three consecutive days as matches now run from Saturday through Monday.
These strategic adjustments aim to enhance academy league accessibility for viewers while providing competitors increased opportunities to secure starting roster positions through Monday stage exposure. However, significant questions remain regarding LCS’s ability to maintain weekend viewership levels on Mondays, and potential consequences if audience retention proves challenging.
LCS Spring Playoffs introduce double elimination, Regional Qualifier removed
The most substantial modification to the 2020 LCS Spring Split involves eliminating the Regional Qualifier tournament alongside Championship Points that previously enabled four teams to compete for Worlds qualification. Instead, the top six performing teams from the regular season will compete within the redesigned Spring Playoffs structure.
Regular season contests maintain best-of-one format, while playoff matches escalate to best-of-five series. The six qualifying organizations will battle through a double-elimination bracket system, with the champion being designated 2020 LCS Spring Champion and securing placement at the 2020 Mid-Season Invitational.
An analogous framework will recur during Summer Playoffs, though featuring eight teams progressing to the bracket. The three highest-performing squads in the revised format will advance to the 2020 World Championship. This determination prompted numerous supporters to question the spring split’s purpose when Worlds placement becomes exclusively attainable during summer competition.
Nevertheless, this transformed LCS structure grants franchises enhanced flexibility to integrate academy competitors into primary rosters, discovering optimal team synergy with reduced risk before summer split initiation. This advancement represents significant progress for the region by creating opportunities for emerging and less seasoned players to demonstrate their worth for main league positions, an area where LCS has faced substantial criticism. Supporters will observe whether these changes sufficiently enable new talent emergence throughout the competitive season.
The elimination of Championship Points fundamentally alters team strategy throughout both splits. Organizations must now balance short-term spring success against long-term roster development objectives, creating fascinating strategic decisions for coaches and management.
Complete match scheduling, ticket purchasing information, and comprehensive bracket details remain accessible here.
Action Checklist
- Schedule Friday viewing for Academy Rush to scout emerging talent
- Follow Monday Night League for additional LCS content and academy player appearances
- Track spring playoff performances to identify teams developing effective roster strategies
- Analyze summer split results for Worlds qualification implications
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » Riot announces 2020 LCS Spring schedule, new league format Complete guide to 2020 LCS format changes, new shows, and strategic implications for teams and viewers