LEC Drops Versus Format, Returns to 10 Teams in 2027
The LEC will abandon its LEC Versus experiment after one year, reverting to a traditional 10-team winter format for 2027.
LEC Commissioner Artem Bykov has confirmed the league will not run its LEC Versus format in 2027. The competition will revert to its classic 10-team winter structure instead.
Bykov made the announcement in an interview with Sheep Esports during the LEC 2026 Summer Finals in Nice, France. The decision ends a one-year experiment that integrated teams from the Tier 2 EMEA Regional Leagues (ERL) into the top-flight winter competition.
Format Reverts, ERL Pathway Unclear
LEC Versus launched in 2026 as a winter tournament. It featured the ten LEC partner organizations alongside two squads from the ERLs. This marked the first time since 2019 that ERL teams had competed directly against LEC opposition on the main stage.
That 2026 edition will be its only run. Bykov stated another direct ERL route into the LEC is not currently planned for the 2027 season. He pointed instead to outside organizers developing independent Tier 2 competitions. One example is the newly announced World Star Challengers Invitational (WSCI).
How the 2026 Experiment Played Out
The 2026 LEC Versus tournament followed a specific structure and produced notable viewership figures. The event's performance data and participating teams are summarized below.
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Participating Teams | 10 LEC partners, Karmine Corp Blue, Los Ratones |
| Tournament Format | 12-team single round-robin group stage, top-eight double-elimination bracket |
| Champion | G2 Esports (defeated Karmine Corp 3-2 in grand final) |
| Peak Viewers | 734,933 |
| Total Hours Watched | 33.8 million |
Los Ratones, an influencer-led roster fronted by Marc "Caedrel" Lamont, became a breakout storyline. The team was eliminated in a tiebreaker on the final day of the group stage. Playoff peak viewership fell by 33% to 397,000 once Los Ratones was knocked out.
Despite that drop, only three tournaments in LEC history logged more total watch time than Versus overall. The commercial performance sits alongside broader questions about the league's format identity.
Bykov said the league's focus for 2027 is on refining the core LEC calendar. The restored 10-team winter structure will replace the Versus experiment. He did not rule out revisiting Tier 2 integration at some point in the future. No such plan is confirmed for next year.
For now, the WSCI is a clear outlet for Tier 2 talent. That invitational will bring 16 teams from China, Korea, APAC, the Americas, and EMEA into competition from September 20 through October 2. Los Ratones, the fan-favorite team from the Versus experiment, has since disbanded.
