2018 NA LCS season#Summer

In June 2017, Riot Games announced that the NA LCS would shift from a promotion and relegation system to franchised league with ten permanent teams beginning in 2018. Each of the ten teams would have guaranteed spots, with the hope to encourage owners to make substantial investments, including the creation of training facilities and improvements in coaching, scouting, and player well-being. Each team was also mandated to maintain an academy squad for emerging talent development. Riot Games also raised the minimum salary for players to {{USD|75,000}}, with an average annual income for League pros around $150,000. Additionally, a players' association was established to offer financial, legal, and career-building support to players.{{cite news |last1=Webster |first1=Andrew |title=With new permanent teams, professional League of Legends will look more like the NBA |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/20/16679430/league-of-legends-na-lcs-permanent-teams |access-date=October 13, 2023 |work=The Verge |date=November 20, 2017 |language=en}}

The buy-in price for the league was $10{{nbsp}}million for existing League of Legends teams, who had previously participated in the League Championship Series or Challenger Series. New teams would be subject to an additional $3{{nbsp}}million, which was distributed to the teams that were replaced in the league. The NA LCS received over 100 applications for a spot in the league.{{cite news |last1=Wolf |first1=Jacob |title=Overwatch League, North American LCS head in different directions |url=https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/20533963/north-american-league-legends-championship-series-franchising-blueprint-overwatch-league |access-date=October 13, 2023 |work=ESPN |date=September 1, 2017 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Khan |first1=Imad |title=Riot releases details on NA LCS franchising with $10M flat-fee buy-in |url=https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/19511222/riot-releases-details-na-lcs-franchising-10m-flat-fee-buy-in |access-date=October 13, 2023 |work=ESPN |date=June 1, 2017 |language=en}} Those applications were then narrowed down to a shortlist, nicknamed "phase two", which saw participants travel to Riot Games' Los Angeles office to interview and review their applications.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lolesports.com/en_US/articles/mid-flight-update-our-selection-process-na-lcs-2018|title=Mid-Flight Update on Our Selection Process for NA LCS 2018|last=Greeley|first=Chris|date=2017-09-22|website=LoL Esports|access-date=}}

The ten franchised teams were announced in November 2017. Among the already established teams in the NA LCS were FlyQuest, Team SoloMid, Cloud9, Counter Logic Gaming, Echo Fox, and Team Liquid. The other four existing teams, Immortals, Phoenix1, Team Dignitas and Team EnVyUs, were declined entry into the restructured league.{{Cite news|url=http://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/21024198/dignitas-league-legends-championship-series-franchising-application-declined|title=Sources: Dignitas' League of Legends Championship Series franchising application declined|work=ESPN.com|access-date=2017-10-24}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/21045074/sources-phoenix1-team-envy-league-championship-series-franchise-applications-denied|title=Sources: Phoenix1 and Team Envy declined entry into newly-franchised LCS|work=ESPN.com|access-date=2017-10-24}} Due to their departure, four new organizations were added to the NA LCS: 100 Thieves, Clutch Gaming, Golden Guardians, and OpTic Gaming.{{cite news |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |title=Ten Franchise Teams for ‘League of Legends’ North American eSports League Unveiled |url=https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/league-of-legends-north-america-league-teams-esports-1202619230/ |access-date=October 13, 2023 |work=Variety |date=November 20, 2017}}

On September 29, 2017, Riot Games announced that the NA LCS would return to a best-of-one format for the 2018 season. The three previous splits employed a best-of-three format and aired two streams simultaneously. According to Riot, the change to a best-of-three format was aimed to increase fan engagement, but its incorporation of simultaneous dual streams to accommodate more games led to a drop in viewership.{{cite news |last1=Lee |first1=Julia |title=NA LCS is moving back to best of 1 format in 2018 |url=https://www.riftherald.com/2017/9/29/16388056/na-lcs-bo1-format-changes-lol-2018 |access-date=November 15, 2023 |work=The Rift Herald |publisher=Polygon |date=September 29, 2017}}

The Spring Split regular season began on January 20 and ended on March 18, 2018. The regular season followed a standard double round-robin format, where each team faced every other team twice. All matches were best-of-one.{{cite news |last1=Goslin |first1=Austen |title=Here is the 2018 NA LCS Spring Split schedule |url=https://www.riftherald.com/2018/1/4/16849860/na-lcs-schedule-2018-spring-split |access-date=November 15, 2023 |work=The Rift Herald |publisher=Polygon |date=January 4, 2018}} The top six teams from the regular season advanced to the playoffs, a single-elimination tournament, which ran from March 24 to April 8, 2018. Of the six teams, the top two started in the semifinals, while the bottom four started in the quarterfinals.{{cite news |last1=Mickunas |first1=Aaron |title=NA LCS 2018 Spring Split Playoffs schedule |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/na-lcs-2018-spring-split-playoffs-schedule-21993 |access-date=November 15, 2023 |work=Dot Esports |date=March 19, 2018}} The winner of the playoffs advanced to the 2018 Mid-Season Invitational.{{cite news |last1=Mickunas |first1=Aaron |title=Liquid and Doublelift triumph over 100 Thieves to claim the 2018 NA LCS Spring Split title |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/liquid-doublelift-triumph-100-thieves-claim-na-lcs-title-22587 |access-date=November 15, 2023 |work=Dot Esports |date=April 8, 2018}}

The Spring Split third place match and final was played at The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater in Miami, Florida.{{cite news |last1=Wolf |first1=Jacob |title=Sources: Riot Games to host 2018 NA LCS Spring Finals in Miami |url=https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/22317296/sources-riot-games-host-2018-na-lcs-spring-finals-miami |access-date=November 15, 2023 |work=ESPN |date=February 4, 2018 |language=en}}

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WL

|for_against_style=none|ranking_style=perc

| update = complete | source = [https://www.lolesports.com/en_US/na-lcs/na_2018_spring/standings/regular_season LoL Esports] ({{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827075338/https://www.lolesports.com/en_US/na-lcs/na_2018_spring/standings/regular_season |date=August 27, 2018}})

| team1 = 100 | name_100 = 100 Thieves

| team5 = C9 | name_C9 = Cloud9

| team6 = CG | name_CG = Clutch Gaming

| team7 = CLG | name_CLG = Counter Logic Gaming

| team8 = FLY | name_FLY = FlyQuest

| team2 = FOX | name_FOX = Echo Fox

| team10 = GG | name_GG = Golden Guardians

| team9 = OG | name_OG = OpTic Gaming

| team4 = TL | name_TL = Team Liquid

| team3 = TSM | name_TSM = Team SoloMid

| win_100 = 13 | loss_100 = 6

| win_C9 = 12 | loss_C9 = 8

| win_CG = 11 | loss_CG = 9

| win_CLG = 7 | loss_CLG = 11

| win_FLY = 6 | loss_FLY = 12

| win_FOX = 12 | loss_FOX = 7

| win_GG = 4 | loss_GG = 14

| win_OG = 5 | loss_OG = 13

| win_TL = 12 | loss_TL = 8

| win_TSM = 13 | loss_TSM = 7

| result1 = SF | result2 = SF

| result3 = QF | result4 = QF

| result5 = QF | result6 = QF

| res_col_header = Q

| col_SF = green1 | text_SF = Advance to semifinals

| col_QF = green2 | text_QF = Advance to quarterfinals

|class_rules=1) Winning percentage; 2) head-to-head record; 3) tiebreaker match(es)

}}

{{6TeamBracket-Info|RD1-RD2-path=0

| boldwinner = high

| RD1 = Quarterfinals

| RD2-group1 = Top seed selects opponent

| RD1-seed1=3

| RD1-team1=Team SoloMid

| RD1-score1=1

| RD1-seed2=6

| RD1-team2=Clutch Gaming

| RD1-score2=3

| RD1-seed3=4

| RD1-team3=Team Liquid

| RD1-score3=3

| RD1-seed4=5

| RD1-team4=Cloud9

| RD1-score4=0

| RD2-seed1=1

| RD2-team1=100 Thieves

| RD2-score1=3

| RD2-seed2=6

| RD2-team2=Clutch Gaming

| RD2-score2=2

| RD2-seed3=2

| RD2-team3=Echo Fox

| RD2-score3=1

| RD2-seed4=4

| RD2-team4=Team Liquid

| RD2-score4=3

| RD3-seed1=1

| RD3-team1=100 Thieves

| RD3-score1=0

| RD3-seed2=4

| RD3-team2=Team Liquid

| RD3-score2=3

| RD3b-seed1=2

| RD3b-team1=Echo Fox

| RD3b-score1=3

| RD3b-seed2=6

| RD3b-team2=Clutch Gaming

| RD3b-score2=0

}}

• Most Valuable Player: Aphromoo, 100 Thieves{{cite news |title=2018 NA LCS Spring Split Award Winners |url=https://nexus.leagueoflegends.com/en-us/2018/03/2018-na-lcs-spring-split-award-winners/ |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=League of Legends Esports |date=March 24, 2018}}
• Rookie of the Split: Licorice, Cloud9
• Coach of the Split: Pr0lly, 100 Thieves

{{stack begin|float=left|margin=true}}

• 1st Team All-Pro:
• {{abbr|T|Top}} Huni, Echo Fox
• {{abbr|J|Jungle}} Dardoch, Echo Fox
• {{abbr|M|Mid}} Bjergsen, Team SoloMid
• {{abbr|B|Bottom}} Cody Sun, 100 Thieves
• {{abbr|S|Support}} Aphromoo, 100 Thieves

{{stack end}}

{{stack begin|float=left|margin=true}}

• 2nd Team All-Pro:
• {{abbr|T|Top}} Hauntzer, Team SoloMid
• {{abbr|J|Jungle}} Meteos, 100 Thieves
• {{abbr|M|Mid}} Jensen, Cloud9
• {{abbr|B|Bottom}} Zven, Team SoloMid
• {{abbr|S|Support}} Smoothie, Cloud9

{{stack end}}

{{stack begin|float=left}}

• 3rd Team All-Pro:
• {{abbr|T|Top}} Ssumday, 100 Thieves
• {{abbr|J|Jungle}} Svenskeren, Cloud9
• {{abbr|M|Mid}} Febiven, Clutch Gaming
• {{abbr|B|Bottom}} Sneaky, Cloud9
• {{abbr|S|Support}} Hakuho, Clutch Gaming

{{stack end}}

{{clear}}

The Summer Split regular season ran from June 16 to August 19, 2018, and followed the same format as the Spring Split.{{cite news |last1=Goslin |first1=Austen |title=NA LCS Summer Split 2018 schedule, stream and results |url=https://www.riftherald.com/2018/6/13/17459916/na-lcs-summer-split-2018-schedule-live-stream-results |access-date=November 15, 2023 |work=The Rift Herald |publisher=Polygon |date=June 13, 2018}} The top six teams from the summer regular season secured spots in the Summer Split playoffs, which ran from August 25 to September 9, 2018. The playoffs were a single-elimination tournament, with top two teams starting in the semifinals and the following four starting in the quarterfinals. The winner of the summer playoffs directly qualified for the 2018 World Championship.{{cite news |title=NA LCS by the numbers -- Summer Split playoffs |url=https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/24464239/na-lcs-numbers-summer-split-playoffs |access-date=November 15, 2023 |work=ESPN |date=August 24, 2018 |language=en}}

The Summer Split third place match and final took place at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.{{cite news |last1=Newell |first1=Adam |title=The 2018 NA LCS Summer Split Finals will be held in Oakland |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/na-lcs-summer-split-finals-2018-oakland-ca-23464 |access-date=November 15, 2023 |work=Dot Esports |date=May 7, 2018}}

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WL

|for_against_style=none|ranking_style=perc

| update = complete | source = [https://www.lolesports.com/en_US/na-lcs/na_2018_summer/standings/playoffs LoL Esports] ({{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910204203/https://www.lolesports.com/en_US/na-lcs/na_2017_spring/schedule/playoffs/Finals |date=September 10, 2018}})

| team3 = 100 | name_100 = 100 Thieves

| team2 = C9 | name_C9 = Cloud9

| team9 = CG | name_CG = Clutch Gaming

| team8 = CLG | name_CLG = Counter Logic Gaming

| team6 = FLY | name_FLY = FlyQuest

| team4 = FOX | name_FOX = Echo Fox

| team10 = GG | name_GG = Golden Guardians

| team7 = OG | name_OG = OpTic Gaming

| team1 = TL | name_TL = Team Liquid

| team5 = TSM | name_TSM = Team SoloMid

| win_100 = 12 | loss_100 = 8

| win_C9 = 11 | loss_C9 = 7

| win_CG = 6 | loss_CG = 12

| win_CLG = 7 | loss_CLG = 11

| win_FLY = 10 | loss_FLY = 10

| win_FOX = 11 | loss_FOX = 9

| win_GG = 5 | loss_GG = 13

| win_OG = 9 | loss_OG = 9

| win_TL = 12 | loss_TL = 6

| win_TSM = 11 | loss_TSM = 9

| result1 = SF | result2 = SF

| result3 = QF | result4 = QF

| result5 = QF | result6 = QF

| res_col_header = Q

| col_SF = green1 | text_SF = Advance to semifinals

| col_QF = green2 | text_QF = Advance to quarterfinals

|class_rules=1) Winning percentage; 2) head-to-head record; 3) tiebreaker match(es)

}}

{{6TeamBracket-Info|RD1-RD2-path=0

| boldwinner = high

| RD1 = Quarterfinals

| RD2-group1 = Top seed selects opponent

| RD1-seed1=3

| RD1-team1=100 Thieves

| RD1-score1=3

| RD1-seed2=6

| RD1-team2=FlyQuest

| RD1-score2=0

| RD1-seed3=4

| RD1-team3=Echo Fox

| RD1-score3=2

| RD1-seed4=5

| RD1-team4=Team SoloMid

| RD1-score4=3

| RD2-seed1=1

| RD2-team1=Team Liquid

| RD2-score1=3

| RD2-seed2=3

| RD2-team2=100 Thieves

| RD2-score2=1

| RD2-seed3=2

| RD2-team3=Cloud9

| RD2-score3=3

| RD2-seed4=5

| RD2-team4=Team SoloMid

| RD2-score4=2

| RD3-seed1=1

| RD3-team1=Team Liquid

| RD3-score1=3

| RD3-seed2=2

| RD3-team2=Cloud9

| RD3-score2=0

| RD3b-seed1=3

| RD3b-team1=100 Thieves

| RD3b-score1=2

| RD3b-seed2=5

| RD3b-team2=Team SoloMid

| RD3b-score2=3

}}

• Most Valuable Player: Doublelift, Team Liquid{{cite news |title=2018 NA LCS Summer Split Award Winners |url=https://nexus.leagueoflegends.com/en-us/2018/08/2018-na-lcs-summer-split-award-winners/ |access-date=November 13, 2023 |work=League of Legends Esports |date=August 24, 2018}}
• Rookie of the Split: Blaber, Cloud9
• Coach of the Split: Reapered, Cloud9

{{stack begin|float=left|margin=true}}

• 1st Team All-Pro:
• {{abbr|T|Top}} Ssumday, 100 Thieves
• {{abbr|J|Jungle}} Xmithie, Team Liquid
• {{abbr|M|Mid}} Jensen, Cloud9
• {{abbr|B|Bottom}} Doublelift, Team Liquid
• {{abbr|S|Support}} Aphromoo, 100 Thieves

{{stack end}}

{{stack begin|float=left|margin=true}}

• 2nd Team All-Pro:
• {{abbr|T|Top}} Licorice, Cloud9
• {{abbr|J|Jungle}} Dardoch, Echo Fox
• {{abbr|M|Mid}} PowerOfEvil, OpTic Gaming
• {{abbr|B|Bottom}} Sneaky, Cloud9
• {{abbr|S|Support}} Zeyzal, Cloud9

{{stack end}}

{{stack begin|float=left}}

• 3rd Team All-Pro:
• {{abbr|T|Top}} Impact, Team Liquid
• {{abbr|T|Top}} Flame, FlyQuest
• {{abbr|J|Jungle}} Santorin, FlyQuest
• {{abbr|M|Mid}} Bjergsen, Team SoloMid
• {{abbr|B|Bottom}} Zven, Team SoloMid
• {{abbr|S|Support}} Olleh, Team Liquid

{{stack end}}

{{clear}}

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=Custom|default_style=WLbasic|hide_played=yes|update=complete

|sortable_table=yes

|num_cols=3

|ranking_col=3

|winpoints=1.000

| source = [https://esports-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/production/files/rules/2018_LCS_LACS_Rules.pdf 2018 NA LCS Rulebook]

|colstyle1=spr |col_header1={{abbr|Spr|Placement in Spring Knockouts}}

|colstyle2=sum |col_header2={{abbr|Sum|Placement in Summer Knockouts}}

|colstyle3=sum_spr_sum |col_header3=Total

| team2 = 100 | name_100 = 100 Thieves

| team3 = C9 | name_C9 = Cloud9

| team6 = CG | name_CG = Clutch Gaming

| team8 = CLG | name_CLG = Counter Logic Gaming

| team7 = FLY | name_FLY = FlyQuest

| team5 = FOX | name_FOX = Echo Fox

| team9 = GG | name_GG = Golden Guardians

| team10 = OG | name_OG = OpTic Gaming

| team1 = TL | name_TL = Team Liquid

| team4 = TSM | name_TSM = Team SoloMid

| spr_100 = 70 | sum_100 = 40

| spr_C9 = 10 | sum_C9 = 90

| spr_CG = 30 | sum_CG = 0

| spr_CLG = 0 | sum_CLG = 0

| spr_FLY = 0 | sum_FLY = 20

| spr_FOX = 50 | sum_FOX = 20

| spr_GG = 0 | sum_GG = 0

| spr_OG = 0 | sum_OG = 0

| spr_TL = 90 | sum_TL = {{abbr|AQ|Automatically qualified}} |col3_TL = {{abbr|AQ|Automatically qualified}}

| spr_TSM = 10 | sum_TSM = 70

| result1 = WC | result2 = WC

| result3 = RF | result4 = RF

| result5 = RF | result6 = RF

|res_col_header=Q

|col_WC=green1 | text_WC=2018 League of Legends World Championship

|col_RF=blue1 | text_RF=Advance to Regional Finals

}}

The regional qualifier was a single elimination ladder tournament that ran from September 14 to 16, and consisted of the top four teams in the LCS based on championship points that had not directly qualified for the 2018 World Championship. All matches were best-of-five The winner of the Regional Finals advanced to the 2018 World Championship.{{cite news |last1=Newell |first1=Adam |title=How to Watch the 2018 NA LCS Regional Finals |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/how-to-watch-na-lcs-regional-finals-2018-lol |access-date=November 15, 2023 |work=Dot Esports |date=September 12, 2018}}

{{4TeamBracket-Stepladder

| boldwinner = high

| RD1 = Round 1

| RD2 = Round 2

| RD3 = Finals

| RD1-seed1 = 5

| RD1-team1 = Echo Fox

| RD1-score1 = 3

| RD1-seed2 = 6

| RD1-team2 = Clutch Gaming

| RD1-score2 = 0

| RD2-seed1 = 4

| RD2-team1 = Team SoloMid

| RD2-score1 = 3

| RD2-seed2 = 5

| RD2-team2 = Echo Fox

| RD2-score2 = 0

| RD3-seed1 = 3

| RD3-team1 = Cloud9

| RD3-score1 = 3

| RD3-seed2 = 4

| RD3-team2 = Team SoloMid

| RD3-score2 = 0

}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://esports-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/production/files/rules/2018_LCS_LACS_Rules.pdf 2018 Official Rules NA LCS and NA LACS]

{{League of Legends Championship Series}}

{{2018 Spring League of Legends}}

Category:League Championship Series (esports) seasons

Category:2018 multiplayer online battle arena tournaments

North American League of Legends Championship

North American League of Legends Championship

Category:Spring 2018 in League of Legends competitions