The LPL, the Chinese league of League of Legends is already one of the most complex competitions in terms of organization, with convoluted playoffs, regional finals and a 17-team regular season (because why not). However, with its pool of talent, the country seems to want to do even more. According to new rumors that surfaced on the internet yesterday, the LPL would like to move to a 19-team format for the upcoming Spring Split 2023. In summary, two new slots will be opened to accommodate two additional structures, almost double the European or American competitions.
According to the CN streaming platform “Huya”, it seems that #LPL will extend to 19 teams. In other words 2 new teams will join the league for the next Spring Split. pic.twitter.com/EDfzyxV2cx
—Rita (@cutebchu) August 29, 2022
The info, which appeared on the Chinese streaming site Huya, caused a lot of reaction in Asia. Especially since the identity of the two additional teams, if the rumor turns out to be true, is not known and can therefore be speculated in all directions. Between well-known teams that would return to the esports scene, influencers who would create a new formation from scratch or foreign teams that would be interested by buying a slot, everything is possible.
Some have already had fun thinking that the Karmine Corp., who has wanted to join the LEC for two years, and who was recently snatched a slot by Team Heretics, could take advantage of this extension of the LPL to finally join the international elite. Especially since the French structure, still in LFL for the moment, would again be overtaken (by KOI this time) to recover another European slot in 2023. This is obviously unlikely, and we especially hope now that the LEC will do the same soon, by extending the league to 12 teams, a matter under consideration for the competition commissioner.