Since 2009, League of Legends (LoL) has become a central title in the eSports industry. The game set a high standard for other competitive titles. Not many games can boast such a global following. Each year, around ten million fans watch the game’s biggest annual tournament, the LoL World Championship.
The top four eSports leagues are LEC, LCS, LPL, and LCK. They represent Western Europe, North America, China, and South Korea, respectively. All of them follow the same rules with regular seasons and playoffs, which precede major events like the World Championship. Yet, they vary greatly in gaming style, professionalism, and player base.
The LCK is known for its highly disciplined, strategic gameplay, while the LPL boasts a more chaotic and aggressive style. Both LCS and LEC are famous for passionate fan bases, often falling behind in international competitions compared to the Chinese and South Korean leagues.
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LCK (League of Legends Champions Korea)
There’s no doubt about the huge potential of the Korean player base. Indeed, few expected the level of dominance that emerged from South Korea.
The Korean server was launched at the end of 2011. By March 2012, OnGameNet had created the first major LoL tournament in the country. It was LoL Champions, which later in 2015 would turn into the LCK. The Korea-based competitive LoL team Azubu Frost reached the Worlds final later that year, only to fall to TPA.
Azubu Frost, known for its disciplined and strategic gameplay, has often been considered the standard for macro play and strong individual mechanics. The region has consistently produced strong teams that perform excellently at international events, especially at World Championships.
The league is characterized by strong individual player skill, excellent macro game understanding, and a history of consistent international success. The weaknesses are occasional predictability due to its focus on established strategies. The best teams are T1, Gen.G, and KT Rolster.
LPL (League of Legends Pro League)
The League of Legends Pro League has been in the game since 2013, having produced many legendary Chinese teams. The league started with Bo1s during the season. In the context of LoL eSports, “bo1” means a “best of 1” match. Simply put, the series consists of one game. Thus, the winner of the game wins the series. However, the league was smaller at that time and included only eight teams. Since then, the LPL has become twice as large.
Known for its fast-paced and sometimes aggressive game style, the LPL often features high kill scores and overwhelming team fights.
The league’s strengths come from forceful gameplay and a large, highly skilled player base. On the contrary, the league’s weaknesses are its aggressive nature. Sometimes, they lack the strategic depth of the LCK. The best teams are JD Gaming, Bilibili Gaming, and Weibo Gaming.
LEC (League of Legends EMEA Championship)
LEC started as EU LCS but was rebranded in 2019. It was extended to the EMEA region in 2023. However, it isn’t the first European LoL league. It’s a successor of the LCS EU (League Championship Series EU). This league lasted from 2013 to 2018 and was divided into two splits. Since 2023, LEC has been divided into three splits: winter, spring, and summer.
The LEC has gained a reputation for being innovative and strategic. Players often try to disrupt the established meta and find brand new ways to gain an advantage.
Innovative strategies, strong players, and a passionate fan base bring strengths to the league. Weaknesses are about a lack of consistency and overall team strength. The best teams are G2 eSports, Fnatic, and Team BDS.
LCS (League of Legends Championship Series)
The LCS has existed since 2013 and became Riot Games’ first franchised league in 2018. North America adopted a franchised system first. In contrast to the LEC, which turned into the EMEA Championship, the LCS didn’t change its name.
The LCS has seen both ups and downs. Historically, it struggled with the Asian leagues and developed consistent international competitors. The league was recently reformed into the North Conference of the League of the Americas (LTA).
Its strengths are a dedicated fan base and talented individual players. Weaknesses come from consistent competition with the Asian regions, and challenges in the player base. The best teams are Team Liquid, Cloud9, and FlyQuest.
Conclusion
While the game all regions compete in is the same, they have developed unique styles. That leads to different competitive scenarios and diverse levels of international success. According to international results, the LCK and LPL are considered the strongest leagues. The LEC and LCS are working to grow more consistent international competitors.
