LEC Winter 2023 All You Need to Know: Format, Schedule, Results, Teams

The League of Legends European Championship has been revamped for the 2023 season. LEC fans have a lot to look forward to, especially with three competitive splits and the launch of LEC Winter Split 2023. It is the newest split in the LEC, which started on January 21 and will run until the end of February. 

The LEC Winter Split 2023 is one of the biggest changes in the EMEA league’s format. Two teams got a chance to debut during this split, namely Team Heretics and KOI (previously known as Rogue). Who will become the first LEC Winter Split champion? 

A guide to LEC 2023 Winter Split

The LEC 2023 Winter Season is the first split of the newly merged EMEA League of Legends system. This is the fifth year of the LEC and the first season following the changed format. The Winter split will feature three different stages. Stage 1 is where all ten teams will compete with each other in a best-of-one (BO1), single round-robin format. Meanwhile, the top eight teams will advance to Stage 2, and play in a double-elimination group stage. From here on, the top four teams will advance to Stage 3, which will be the double-elimination playoffs. Stages 2 and 3 will feature best-of-three and best-of-five formats.

The same format is set to continue for the Spring and Summer splits. The top six teams from across the season will, further on, fight for the championship in a double elimination bracket and for qualification to Worlds 2023 during the LEC Season Finals.

Format for LEC 2023 Winter Split

Stage 1 (Regular Season) (January 21 — February 6)

• 10 teams will face each other in Stage 1 during a three-week span
• The teams will face each other in a Single Round Robin format
• Winners will be decided based on best-of-one matches. 
• Top Eight teams will advance to Stage 2 of LEC 2023 Winter Split

Stage 2 (Groups)

• Eight teams will participate in Stage 2
• Teams will be split into two groups of four
• Teams will face each other in a Double-elimination bracket
• Winners will be decided based on best-of-three (BO3) format 
• Top two teams from each group will advance to Stage 3 of LEC 2023 Winter Split

Stage 3 (Playoffs)

• Four teams will compete in the Play-Offs
• Matches will be held in a Double-elimination bracket format
• Teams will play matches in a best-of-five (BO5) style elimination

The winner of the LEC 2023 Winter Split, decided in the playoff stage, will earn a spot in the LEC Finals along with 120 points toward qualification for Worlds 2023.

Regular Season Schedule

The Regular Season (Stage 1) will take place from January 21 until February 6. Below is the week-wise split of the schedule.

Week 1 (January 21-23)

Week 2 (January 28-30)

Week 3 (February 4-6)

LEC Winter 2023: Teams & players

The League of Legends European Championship has seen significant changes in the offseason. Along with the new format changes, two new teams have been added to the league for 2023, Team KOI and Team Heretics.

Many teams have also updated their rosters for the new competitive calendar in hopes of reaching greater heights in 2023. Fnatic revamped their bot lane, re-signing Martin ‘Rekkles’ Larsson and promoting academy support Rúben ‘rhuckz’ Barbosa, and so did G2 Esports, who, in addition to picking up Steven ‘Hans sama’ Liv and bringing Mihael ‘Mikyx’ Mehle back, snared rookie-jungler Martin ‘Yike’ Sundelin.

Meanwhile, Vitality, after the collapse of their ‘super team’, built almost an entirely new roster, which will revolve around ‘jungler’ Zhou ‘Bo’ Yangbo who is one of the imports that LEC fans are excited to see in action, alongside Heretics’ Japanese top-laner Shunsuke “Evi” Murase, formerly of Detonation FocusMe.

As of League of Legends LEC 2023 Winter Split, the games will be held on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays. Interestingly, Friday has been scrapped as a game day, and this is part of the new schedule that will apply for the entire year.