MarkZ announces LTA format overhaul ahead of Split 2

"We know Split 1 didn't hit the mark for a lot of fans. And, honestly, we agree."

After what was a disappointing inaugural Split in the LTA, Mark "MarkZ" Zimmerman, commissioner of the league, has addressed the community in a video detailing all of the format changes coming to the LTA for Splits 2 and 3 in 2025.

With the LTA Split 2 taking off on April 5th, these changes will aim to provide an overall better experience for the fans in an attempt to see the LTA bounce back after struggling with viewership in Split 1.

LTA Split 2 Format

The new-look Split 2 of the LTA will be split across three stages: the Positioning Stage, the Group Stage, and the Playoffs. Let's break down how each of these stages will work:

Positioning Stage

• Will run from Week 1 to Week 3
• Single round-robin format
• All matches will be Bo1
• Final standings will decide how groups are divided for the Group Stage

Credit: LTA North

Group Stage

• Will run from Week 4 until Week 7
• Matches in Weeks 4, 5 and 6 will take place within groups
• Week 7 will be cross-group battle:
  • Seeds 1 and 2 from each group will play each other for seeding
  • Seeds 3 and 4 from each group will play each other with elimination on the line
• All matches will be Bo3
• All matches feature Fearless Draft
• Top 6 teams qualify for Playoffs

Credit: LTA North

Playoffs

• Double-elimination bracket
• All matches will be Bo5
• All matches feature Fearless Draft
• LTA North Champions qualify for MSI 2025 Bracket Stage
• LTA South Champions qualify for MSI 2025 Play-In Stage

MSI 2025 is headed to Canada, where the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver will host the best teams in the world. (Credit: Riot Games)

LTA Split 3 Format

After MSI 2025 draws to a close, LTA teams will return to home to play the final Split 3 of the season. For the LTA Split 3, changes will be minimal, with the main difference coming with elimination matches turning from Bo3 to Bo5.

As a reminder, here's how the LTA Split 3 format will work:

• Swiss Stage format
• Week 1 matchups will be determined by Split 2 seeding
• New 'pick & play' format:
  • Week 3: teams with the worst records select their next opponent
  • Week 4-6: higher ranked teams earn the right to choose their opponents
• Weeks 1-3 will be Bo3
• Two teams will be eliminated in each of the following weeks: Week 4, Week 5, and Week 6
• Elimination matches will be Bo5
• Fearless Draft will be used throughout the tournament
• Top ranked team from each Conference qualifies for Worlds 2025

Credit: Riot Games

Once Split 3 comes to an end, the top three teams from each of the two LTA Conferences (North and South) will compete in the Regional Championship, the final cross-conference tournament of the year, where they will play for the last LTA slot at Worlds 2025.

Additional updates

Format changes were not all the LTA had in store of us with their most recent announcement. Over the course of the video, MarkZ explained several other updates coming to the LTA for Splits 2 and 3 to ensure the league is headed in the right direction.

Some of the most important changes include:

• Bootcamp for LTA South teams:
  • Top three LTA South teams who don't qualify for MSI 2025 will be flown to Los Angeles for a bootcamp.
  • Bootcamp will take place between Splits 2 and 3.
  • Aim is to help LTA South teams catch up with teams in the North Conference.
• Schedule changes:
  • Riot Games has made adjustments to the broadcast schedule to avoid overlap between two separate leagues.
• Streamed scrims:
  • LTA teams are allowed to stream scrims.
  • Teams can now also stream scrims against Tier-2 teams as long as there are no conflicts of schedule.
•  LTA Fantasy:
  • The LTA Fantasy app is set to launch before the start of Split 2.
  • A full tutorial will be released with the launch of the LTA Fantasy.

"We're committed to making the LTA a competitively-driven ecosystyem."

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Featured image credit: Stefan Wisnoski/Riot Games

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