Farewell to the LTA: Riot Restores LCS and CBLOL

Riot Games had bet on a new competitive era with the League of Legends Championship of The Americas (LTA), a circuit that unified North and South America under a single structure. The goal was to raise the competitive level and optimize regional management. However, after just one season, the company has announced the official reinstatement of the LCS and CBLOL for 2026, acknowledging that the experiment didn’t work as expected.

What was the LTA and why did it fail?

• Two main conferences: LTA North (formerly LCS) and LTA South (formerly CBLOL)
• Interregional format with cross-conference matches and unified qualification
• Inaugural finals: FlyQuest vs Vivo Keyd Stars, in an attempt to consolidate rivalries

Although the proposal seemed ambitious, the community reacted with discontent. According to sources close to Riot, “regional pride and history are fundamental to the League of Legends esports experience.” The LTA was criticized for diluting local narratives and creating confusion among fans.

The return of historic leagues

Riot Games’ decision has been met with excitement in North America and Brazil. The return of the LCS and CBLOL not only restores the brands but also restructures the competitive landscape in the Americas:

• Regional live finals: Local events with distinct identities are back
• Three splits per season: More competition time and adaptation opportunities for teams
• Updated international qualification: MSI and Worlds will feature new criteria, still to be defined for LAN and LAS

What does this mean for the future?

The restructuring is a victory for the most passionate fandom, which proved it has the power to influence decisions at one of the world’s largest esports companies. While the Esports Awards 2025 celebrate past champions, the new season sets the stage for the future, ensuring that top-tier American gaming regains its most beloved identities and rivalries.

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