Esports competitions are multiplying around the world every year, particularly in Europe. League of Legends, one of the flagship games in the esports scene, contributes greatly to this trend through its tournaments across the continent. Minor and major tournaments are regularly organized in various locations throughout the continent.
League Of Legends dans l’esport
What is League of Legends?
A quick reminder for beginners. League of Legends (more commonly known as “LoL”) is a video game developed by Riot Games and released in 2009. The main mode of the game involves a battle between two teams of five players. The goal is to destroy the enemy’s base. Each player controls a champion, who levels up as the game progresses. This allows them to gain abilities and purchase artifacts to enhance their inventory and become stronger.
League of Legends is a free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game for computers. A mobile version of the game, “League of Legends: Wild Rift,” is also available.
The Popularity of League of Legends
To give you an idea of what League of Legends represents, here are some numbers. In August 2022, there were no less than 124 million active accounts, according to the website millenium.org. The esport scene of the game is equally popular. For example, the final match of the 2019 edition of the “League of Legends World Championship” set a record with a peak audience of over 21.8 million viewers (source: lemonde.fr). As for Europe, the “League of Legends European Championship” reaches peaks between 800,000 and 1,000,000 viewers for its latest editions.
The Impact of League of Legends in Esports
The initial League of Legends tournaments were organized by external entities. However, Riot Games quickly became involved in the esports competition of their game. By adapting the organization, events, and structures to operate similarly to traditional sports, Riot Games elevated esports to another level. Starting from 2013, the World Championship finals began with true American-style shows. Concerts featuring international stars, such as the band “Imagine Dragons,” could only generate tremendous enthusiasm from the audience..
League of Legends European Championship
Let’s talk about the “League of Legends European Championship” (LEC), which can be compared to the UEFA European Championship in football. The league consists of 10 professional teams. The season is divided into the “Spring Split” in spring and the “Summer Split” in summer. Each split lasts for nine weeks, during which all teams compete against each other. They are concluded with a playoff tournament among the top six teams of the season. At the end of the season, the top teams qualify for the World Championships.
Other tournaments exist
League of Legends tournaments are well established in Europe. Besides the “Amazon European Masters,” which represents the second division of League of Legends esports in Europe, there are also national-scale tournaments.
In France, one of the most developed European countries in esports, there is the LFL (French League of Legends). The LFL is divided into two divisions, each hosting 10 teams that compete throughout the season for the title.
A similar system is in place in other European countries, such as Spain with the LVP Superliga.
Esports in Luxembourg
If you didn’t know yet, esports is thriving in Luxembourg! There’s even the Luxembourg Esports Federation (FLES) which aims to develop esports in the country. Several competitions have already taken place, including:
- Post Esports Master: With two seasons under its belt, this competition is open to players from Luxembourg and the Greater Region. Participants compete in games like League of Legends, FIFA, and Clash Royale.
- Central Smash Series: Tournaments on the game Super Smash Bros. Ultimate organized by SweetSpot Asbl.
- LGX Arena: Launched in 2021 by Luxembourg Gaming Experience, this competition is open to all Europeans. It revolves around several games, including Apex Legends, CS:GO, League of Legends, Rocket League, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
League of Legends Tournaments in Luxembourg
Elite Series: League of Legends, Benelux’s Strength
Esports League of Legends has a strong presence in Luxembourg, thanks to the “Elite Series: League of Legends.” It represents the merged “League of Legends European Regional League (ERL)” of the Benelux region, succeeding the “Belgian League” and the “Dutch League.” This merger was made possible by the Belgian esports agency META.
It all begins with the Benelux Open Tour, which aims to discover new talents in the region. It primarily constitutes the second division of the national leagues of the member countries.
In the top tier, we have the “League of Legends Benelux Circuit,” a competition open to amateur talents from the region. It allows the best players to advance to the “Elite Series.”
The “Elite Series: League of Legends” will be divided into two divisions starting from 2023. The second division offers qualifying spots for the first division. The “Elite Series” operates in the same way as in other countries, with a “Spring Split” and a “Summer Split.” The eight participating teams compete, leading to a playoff among the top four teams. Finally, the top two teams qualify to represent the Benelux region in the “Amazon European Masters.”
Each split of the “Elite Series” offers a cash prize of €10,000. A reward of €8,000 is also granted during the Pro-Amateur tournaments. The last “Summer Split” was won by the Belgian team “KRC Genk Esports.”
The return of the Elite Series
The “Elite Series” resumes from January 24, 2023. All matches are broadcast live on Twitch on the EsportsPrimeLOL and RTBF_iXPe channels. To stay up to date with all the information about the “Elite Series,” follow them on Twitter @EliteSeriesLOL.
