The LEC and LCS will both be getting back underway with matches played entirely online, after both leagues temporarily suspended their seasons due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Europe’s LEC and North America’s LCS are two of League of Legends most popular pro leagues, and both suspended play on Friday, March 13, after LCS matches were canceled minutes before the broadcast was set to begin.
The decision to suspend play came after LCS personnel revealed that a member of their staff had come in contact with someone that had tested positive for the virus, but the good news is that both leagues will be resuming play within the next week.
The #LEC Returns this Friday!
Tl;dr:Due to the ongoing developments of the coronavirus pandemic we have decided to play the remainder of the 2020 LEC Spring Split 100% remotely online, with matches resuming Friday, March 20th.
More info: https://t.co/Ewe5oZExfR pic.twitter.com/fZOcS2Zoid
— LEC (@LEC) March 17, 2020
The LEC announced they would be sticking to their regular Spring Split schedule, but teams would be playing the remainder of their matches remotely online starting Friday, March 20.
LCS, on the other hand, had to switch a few things around schedule-wise but also announced that teams would be resuming play starting on Saturday, March 21.
The North American League will resume with its regularly scheduled matches starting in Week Eight, but they’ll be moving Monday games to be played on Saturday and Sunday as well.
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League of Legends Championship Series updated Spring Schedule is as follows:
- Week 8: March 21-22
- Week 9: March 28-29
- Spring Playoff: April 4-19
- Round 1: April 4-5
- Round 1 Losers: April 7-8
- Round 2: April 11-12
- Finals: April 18-19
An update on the 2020 LCS & Academy Spring Split from Chris Greeley, LCS Commissioner pic.twitter.com/0G7SsoSTOt
— LCS (@LCSOfficial) March 17, 2020
Fans were also warned that they “may see some changes or delays in the broadcast” as the league works to get used to the new, fully remote setup.
The Coronavirus situation the two top LoL leagues were facing was the same that most major sporting and esports events have had to contend with in recent weeks, but the good news for esports fans is that our competitions can and are being moved online.
LCS and LEC’s announcements came just a few days after the Overwatch League announced it would be shifting to an all-online format to replace all it’s March and April homestands, which were cancelled along with most other major gatherings in the last few weeks.