Riot Games has finally announced the League of Legends Game Changers (LGC) as the official EMEA women’s League of Legends competition, after reports first came in 2022.
The Grand Final of the inaugural LGC Rising will take place at Paris Games Week in October, as the first step in building a competitive ecosystem for women across the region.
While not the first women-only tournament for League of Legends, this is the first time Riot Games has organised such a tournament.
League of Legends Game Changers
The LGC will be the first ever Riot Games’ officially organised women-only tournament.
The tournament is open to all individuals who identify as women, however, those who identify as non-binary were not mentioned.
Esports News UK has reached out to Riot Games EMEA for clarification.
Riot Games was first looking to create such a league as far back as 2022 when reports first emerged.
The publisher has said that it aims to create a safe and welcoming environment where anyone can play and compete with LGC.
They also acknowledge foundational tournaments and initiatives that’ve made this possible, such as the Equal Esports Cup, the Coupe des Étoiles, and G2 Hel.
Drawing inspiration from their successful Valorant Game Changers, Riot Games will look to replicate its success.
However, Valorant Game Changers hasn’t been as much of a success as some players would’ve hoped.
As Maryam ‘Mary’ Maher said to us at Esports News UK on the topic:
Any day this could die, and you would never expect it to. As much as we praise esports and tournaments and all that, it’s still not stable, like anything else in life.
Riot Games will hope that Game Changers for both Valorant and League of Legends will continue to grow in the coming years.
LGC Rising will start with smaller formats and tournaments, with the aim to scale up events as time goes on.
The main League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) will also help support LGC, with Riot Games teasing that LEC teams may get involved.
G2 Esports, Team Vitality, and SK Gaming already have female League of Legends rosters that should be ready to join the LGC.
With G2 Hel recently becoming the first female LoL team to qualify for Tier 2 of an European Regional League.
The Road to Paris Games Week
Riot Games has not yet finalised the details, but the competition is set to begin in August with the online Open Qualifier.
The Group Stage will take place from September 13th to 29th, with the Playoffs going from October 10th to 15th.
The LGC Rising will conclude with a live Grand Final on stage at Paris Games Week on Thursday, October 30th.
The Grand Final of LGC coincides with the start of the 2025 LoL World Championship, which may cause issues for the fledgling tournament.
However, some of these dates and details are subject to change as Riot Games is still finalising details.
What to expect from League of Legends Game Changers
Who can compete in LGC Rising?
LGC Rising is open to all individuals who identify as women.
Riot Games has said its goal is to create a respectful, competitive environment where everyone feels welcome to play, grow, and be celebrated.
How are teams being selected?
Combining direct invitations with open competition, a total of three rosters already active in the space, particularly those affiliated with LEC organisations, will receive invitations.
Meaning G2 Hel, Vitality Bees, and SK Gaming Avarosa have guaranteed slots.
Additionally, the three finalists from the Equal Esports Cup will be given slots based on their previous performances.
To ensure broader accessibility and opportunity, there will also be an Open Qualifier in August.
What will the tournament format look like?
LGC Rising will kick off with eight teams split into two groups.
Each group will play a best-of-one, single round robin.
The top three teams from each group will advance to the Playoffs.
The format will then shift to a double-elimination bracket with each match being a best-of-five series.
The top two teams will advance to the Grand Final at Paris Games Week.
What’s the timeline for LGC Rising?
While some dates are still being finalised, here’s the current schedule:
- Open Qualifier: August (Date TBC)
- Group Stage: September 13–14, 20–21, 27–29
- Playoffs: October 10–12 and 14–15
- Grand Final: October 30, live on stage at Paris Games Week
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