Last updated: June 2, 11:45 AM BST. (Added info about LCS walk-out)
The LCS Summer Split was initially intended to begin on June 1, but has since been delayed due to the 2023 LCS Player Walk-out. The new start date is now June 15, delayed by 2 weeks, the competition will run until August 20 for an action-packed month of pro-League of Legends esports where the top teams compete for a slot in the all-important LoL Worlds.
A prize pool of $200,000 is on the line, where the winner takes home the lion's share of $100,000 and automatically qualifies for Worlds. But who will the lucky team be? Stay tuned to find out - here's everything you need to know about LCS Summer 2023!
The opening of the LCS Summer Split has been confirmed to be delayed by two weeks after pro-players voted "overhwlemingly" to commit to a walk out.
Players would not participate in the tournament should Riot Games not address concerns from the League of Legends Championship Series Player's Association (LCSPA) about the future of the LCS and the amateur North America Challenger's League (NACL), which provides future talents to feed into the LCS. If the two groups cannot reach a mutual agreement in two weeks, the LCS Summer Split will be canceled, and a North American team will not be competing in LoL Worlds this year.
In May, Riot Games confirmed they were remvoving a mandate that required LCS teams to fund a NACL team, as well as their LCS rosters. The LCSPA were outraged, calling this an "unprecedented decision to destroy the NACL" leaving as many as 70 coaches, managers, and players without jobs. The NACL is a greay way to maintain the ecosystem of LoL esports in the region.
LCS Summer 2023 will be split into two main stages: the Group Stage and the Playoffs.
The Group Stage
The top eight teams will advance to the playoffs: 1st-2nd place are seeded to Upper Bracket Semifinals. The 3rd-6th place is seeded into the Upper Bracket Quarterfinals, while 7th-8th place are in the Lower Bracket.
The Playoffs
The top three teams qualify for LoL Worlds, and 4th place is in for a chance to be a Wildcard through qualifiers.
Ten teams will compete in the 2023 LCS Summer Split, beginning with the Group Stage.
Here are all the LCS teams and their complete player roster moves and changes.
100Thieves top player, Ssumday, has returned home after he parted ways with Evil Geniuses to temporarily join Evil Geniuses this past offseason. His rejoining the fray means that 100 Thieves have a chance to claim an LCS championship once again.
Cloud9 are one of the most famous esports organizations in the game and hasn't made huge roster changes to their lineup. They have a perfect run in the LCS 2022 Championship, having won every playoff match. Let's hope they can replicate their performance in the summer split.
Dignitas have come into LCS 2023 with a fresh roster, adding four of the most promising up-and-coming talent with Jensen and Santorin. Jensen, in particular, is the only currently-active player to have qualified for Worlds in every season he has competed. Will he be Dignitas' lucky charm?
Evil Geniuses have completely overhauled their roster and coaching staff for LCS Summer after a disappointing run in the LCS Spring Split. Will their clean slate help them or hinder them in LCS Summer 2023?
FlyQuest has one of the more competitive rosters, employing top-lane veteran Impact into their roster, who helped Evil Geniuses earn their previous LCS titles.
The Golden Guardians is operated by the NBA team Golden State Warriors. They retained most of their roster from the 2022 season, with various well-rounded players.
Immortals finished in the bottom half of the LCS regular season standings last year and are looking to come back with a bang in 2023 with their new and improved player roster.
NRG has made some significant roster moves, acquiring the entire team infrastructure of CLG, with fans hoping to relive CLG's glory days from 2014-2016.
Team Liquid failed to make an impression in the 2022 season. This year, they have formed a roster that looks good on paper, but will their strengths be replicated on the battleground of Summoner's Rift?
LCS Summer Split 2023 marks TSM's last split in the North American league before they move onto new pastures, with promises to join another tier-one region, like LEC, LPL, or LCK. They are looking to leave their mark on LCS before they depart.
The venue for LCS Summer 2023 will be the purposefully-build Riot Games Arena, where LCS fans can gather to watch their favorite teams clash on the big stage. The later LCS Championship will be held at the Prudential Center in New Jersey.
Any League of Legends fans who can't attend the event can watch the matches live online on the official LCS Twitch channel, and VODs will be posted on their YouTube.
Below is the schedule for LCS Summer 2023 - we will update this article with the schedules for weeks 3-4 in the near future. All times listed are in PST, and match winners will be bold.
June 15
June 16
June 21
June 22
June 23
We will update this article with LCS Summer 2023 standings, match results, and future schedules so you don't have to miss any of the action! Rivalry is the place for League of Legends news - we have an ARAM guide, League of Legends dragons guide, the best LoL skins, and more!