The basics

The LEC Spring Split begins March 28. The prize on the line is more than bragging rights: teams are fighting for spots at the Mid-Season Invitational and the Esports World Cup. Even with Los Ratones gone from the league, interest is high after G2’s impressive run at First Stand put some western optimism back on the menu.

Format refresher

  • Single round robin regular season.
  • All matches are best-of-three. No more best-of-ones.
  • Top six teams advance to a best-of-five, double-elimination playoff.
  • MSI and EWC qualification are at stake.

The obvious favorite: G2

G2 are the team to beat. That said, the org has a habit of treating the regular season like a warm-up. Last split they nearly missed the playoffs entirely, then went on to win LEC Versus and followed up with back-to-back sweeps of BNK FEARX and Gen.G at First Stand. The new split starts just six days after that final, so fatigue and reset will be real concerns. G2 do get a small break: they are not scheduled to play in Week 1, which helps their recovery window.

The main question is simple: can anyone match them in the playoffs?

The challengers

  • Karmine Corp pushed G2 to five games in the LEC Versus final and look like the closest team on paper. Their new roster pieces still need time to settle, but expectations are high.
  • Movistar KOI also took KCorp to five in the playoffs. They looked outclassed in the series decider last time, but the org has shown commitment by renewing key staff contracts. On talent and record, MKOI and KCorp are basically neck and neck.

Dark horses and storylines to watch

  • Fnatic still deserve attention despite a shaky earlier season. The addition of Andrei “Odoamne” Pascu and bringing in a third coach for LEC duties could help unlock more from their roster.
  • Shifters skipped a marketing appearance because they were in South Korea bootcamping after missing the LEC Versus playoffs. They clearly prioritized practice over promotion, which is a bold move.
  • Team Heretics are the only team who made late roster moves, signing support Han “Way” Gil and hiring retired midlaner Fabian “Febiven” Diepstraten as a positional coach. New faces and a fresh coaching angle might change their trajectory.

Opening weekend schedule

  • Saturday, March 28

  • GIANTX vs Fnatic

  • Karmine Corp vs Team Vitality

  • Natus Vincere vs Movistar KOI

  • Sunday, March 29

  • SK Gaming vs Team Heretics

  • Movistar KOI vs Fnatic

  • Monday, March 30

  • Natus Vincere vs SK Gaming

  • Team Heretics vs Team Vitality

Where this split could go

Expect G2 to be the measuring stick. Karmine Corp and Movistar KOI should be the main challengers, with Fnatic, Shifters and Team Heretics capable of surprising runs if their upgrades click. The schedule and the short turnaround from First Stand add an extra wrinkle — fatigue and momentum will matter.

Share your bold predictions with the community on Discord and keep an eye out for the announced LEC roadtrips this spring if you want to catch matches live in person.

Stay tuned. This split should be interesting, and I’m already excited to see who actually shows up when it matters most.