2021 LCS season#Spring

The format of the LCS underwent significant changes for the 2021 season. The season introduced the "LCS Lock In," a three-week preseason tournament. The regular season expanded to five games a day over three days a week. The spring split regular season was changed to a double round-robin played over six weeks instead of nine, while maintaining the same number of games as the previous season. Additionally, the spring playoffs were rebranded as the Mid-Season Showdown (MSS). The summer split regular season was expanded to a triple round-robin format that took place over nine weeks. Additionally, the spring and summer regular season records were merged to determine the seeding for the LCS Championship at the end of the summer.{{cite news |last1=Soba |first1=Carolynn |title=All there is to know about the 2021 LCS format change |url=https://upcomer.com/all-there-is-to-know-about-the-2021-lcs-format-change |access-date=November 8, 2023 |work=Upcomer |date=January 9, 2021 |language=en}}

The league also rebranded from the League of Legends Championship Series into the League Championship Series ahead of the 2021 season. A new logo and two new mottos were introduced: Made by many and All for the game.{{cite news |last1=Suárez |first1=Pablo |title=Riot presents complete revamp of LCS' brand identity |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/riot-presents-complete-revamp-of-lcs-brand-identity |access-date=November 10, 2023 |work=Dot Esports |date=January 5, 2021}}

The inaugural LCS Lock In took place from January 15 to 31, 2021, as a three-week preseason tournament. The group stage team selection process began with the top-performing teams from the previous year, namely TSM from group A and FlyQuest from group B. These teams each selected squads to be placed in the opposing group. The Lock-In groups followed a round-robin format, where each team played every other team in their group once, with matches being best-of-one. The top four teams from each group advanced to the knockout stage. The quarterfinals in the knockout stage were contested in a best-of-three series, while the semifinals and final used a best-of-five format. The Lock In champion was awarded a prize of US$150,000, along with an additional $50,000 for a charity of their choice. Additionally, they gained the advantage of side selection for Game 5 of the regular season in case of tied head-to-head records.{{cite news |title=2021 LCS Season Updates |url=https://lolesports.com/article/2021-lcs-season-updates/blte6f00fe5b287ffd5 |access-date=November 8, 2023 |work=League of Legends Esports |date=December 14, 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Çakır |first1=Gökhan |title=How to watch the LCS 2021 Lock In: Format, schedule, and more |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/how-to-watch-the-lcs-2021-lock-in-format-schedule-and-more |access-date=November 8, 2023 |work=Dot Esports |date=January 12, 2021}}

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

; Group A

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

|for_against_style=none|ranking_style=perc

| update = complete | source = [https://lolesports.com/standings/lcs/lcs_2021_lockin/groups LoL Esports]

| team1 = 100 | name_100 = 100 Thieves

| team5 = CLG | name_CLG = Counter Logic Gaming

| team4 = GG | name_GG = Golden Guardians

| team2 = TL | name_TL = Team Liquid

| team3 = TSM | name_TSM = Team SoloMid

| win_100 = 3 | loss_100 = 1

| win_CLG = 1 | loss_CLG = 3

| win_GG = 1 | loss_GG = 3

| win_TL = 3 | loss_TL = 1

| win_TSM = 2 | loss_TSM = 2

| result1 = QF | result2 = QF

| result3 = QF | result4 = QF

| class_rules = 1) Wins; 2) Head-to-head record

| res_col_header = Q

| col_QF = green1 | text_QF = Advance to quarterfinals

}}

{{stack end}}

{{stack begin|float=left}}

; Group B

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

|for_against_style=none|ranking_style=perc

| update = complete | source = [https://lolesports.com/standings/lcs/lcs_2021_lockin/groups LoL Esports]

| team2 = C9 | name_C9 = Cloud9

| team5 = DIG | name_DIG = Dignitas

| team1 = EG | name_EG = Evil Geniuses

| team3 = FLY | name_FLY = FlyQuest

| team4 = IMT | name_IMT = Immortals

| win_C9 = 3 | loss_C9 = 1

| win_DIG = 1 | loss_DIG = 3

| win_EG = 3 | loss_EG = 1

| win_FLY = 2 | loss_FLY = 2

| win_IMT = 1 | loss_IMT = 3

| result1 = QF | result2 = QF

| result3 = QF | result4 = QF

| class_rules = 1) Wins; 2) Head-to-head record

| res_col_header = Q

| col_QF = green1 | text_QF = Advance to quarterfinals

}}

{{stack end}}

{{clear}}

{{8TeamBracket-info

| boldwinner = high

| RD1-seed1 = A1

| RD1-team1 = 100 Thieves

| RD1-score1 = 2

| RD1-seed2 = B4

| RD1-team2 = Immortals

| RD1-score2 = 0

| RD1-seed3 = B2

| RD1-team3 = Cloud9

| RD1-score3 = 2

| RD1-seed4 = A3

| RD1-team4 = Team SoloMid

| RD1-score4 = 1

| RD1-seed5 = B1

| RD1-team5 = Evil Geniuses

| RD1-score5 = 2

| RD1-seed6 = A4

| RD1-team6 = Golden Guardians

| RD1-score6 = 0

| RD1-seed7 = A2

| RD1-team7 = Team Liquid

| RD1-score7 = 2

| RD1-seed8 = B3

| RD1-team8 = FlyQuest

| RD1-score8 = 0

| RD2-seed1 = A1

| RD2-team1 = 100 Thieves

| RD2-score1 = 2

| RD2-seed2 = B2

| RD2-team2 = Cloud9

| RD2-score2 = 3

| RD2-seed3 = B1

| RD2-team3 = Evil Geniuses

| RD2-score3 = 0

| RD2-seed4 = A2

| RD2-team4 = Team Liquid

| RD2-score4 = 3

| RD3-seed1 = B2

| RD3-team1 = Cloud9

| RD3-score1 = 2

| RD3-seed2 = A2

| RD3-team2 = Team Liquid

| RD3-score2 = 3

}}

The Spring Split regular season ran from February 5 to March 14, 2021. The regular season followed a standard double round-robin format, where each team faced every other team twice. The playoffs ran from April 2 to 24, 2021. The top six teams from the Spring Split advanced to the Mid-Season Showdown (MSS), a double-elimination tournament. This format was similar to the 2020 Spring Playoffs, with the fifth and sixth seeds starting in the lower bracket. One change was the requirement for the first seed to face the fourth seed, and side selection favored the team that had most recently dropped from the upper bracket. Additionally, ties were resolved based on seeding. The winner of the MSS was awarded the first LCS title of 2021 and secured a spot at the 2021 Mid-Season Invitational.

The lower bracket final and grand final of the MSS took place at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, California.{{cite news |last1=Beresford |first1=Trilby |title=L.A.’s Greek Theatre to Host ‘League of Legends’ Esports Event |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/l-a-s-greek-theatre-to-host-league-of-legends-esports-event-4162403/ |access-date=November 10, 2023 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=April 7, 2021}}

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

|for_against_style=none|ranking_style=perc

| update = complete | source = [https://lolesports.com/standings/lcs/lcs_2021/regular_season LoL Esports] ({{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318041142/https://lolesports.com/standings/lcs/lcs_2021/regular_season |date=March 18, 2021}})

| team4 = 100 | name_100 = 100 Thieves

| team1 = C9 | name_C9 = Cloud9

| team9 = CLG | name_CLG = Counter Logic Gaming

| team5 = DIG | name_DIG = Dignitas

| team6 = EG | name_EG = Evil Geniuses

| team8 = FLY | name_FLY = FlyQuest

| team10 = GG | name_GG = Golden Guardians

| team7 = IMT | name_IMT = Immortals

| team3 = TL | name_TL = Team Liquid

| team2 = TSM | name_TSM = Team SoloMid

| win_100 = 11 | loss_100 = 7

| win_C9 = 13 | loss_C9 = 5

| win_CLG = 5 | loss_CLG = 13

| win_DIG = 11 | loss_DIG = 7

| win_EG = 10 | loss_EG = 8

| win_FLY = 6 | loss_FLY = 12

| win_GG = 3 | loss_GG = 15

| win_IMT = 7 | loss_IMT = 11

| win_TL = 12 | loss_TL = 6

| win_TSM = 12 | loss_TSM = 6

| result1 = WB | result2 = WB

| result3 = WB | result4 = WB

| result5 = LB | result6 = LB

| res_col_header = Q

| col_WB = green1 | text_WB = Advance to upper semifinals

| col_LB = blue1 | text_LB = Advance to lower quarterfinals

}}

{{6TeamBracket-2Elim|upperstyle=3

| boldwinner = y

| RD1-seed1 = 1

| RD1-team1 = Cloud9

| RD1-score1 = 3

| RD1-seed2 = 4

| RD1-team2 = 100 Thieves

| RD1-score2 = 0

| RD1-seed3 = 2

| RD1-team3 = Team SoloMid

| RD1-score3 = 1

| RD1-seed4 = 3

| RD1-team4 = Team Liquid

| RD1-score4 = 3

| RD1b-seed1 = 2

| RD1b-team1 = Team SoloMid

| RD1b-score1 = 3

| RD1b-seed2 = 6

| RD1b-team2 = Evil Geniuses

| RD1b-score2 = 1

| RD1b-seed3 = 4

| RD1b-team3 = 100 Thieves

| RD1b-score3 = 3

| RD1b-seed4 = 5

| RD1b-team4 = Dignitas

| RD1b-score4 = 0

| RD2-seed1 = 1

| RD2-team1 = Cloud9

| RD2-score1 = 3

| RD2-seed2 = 3

| RD2-team2 = Team Liquid

| RD2-score2 = 1

| RD2b-seed1 = 2

| RD2b-team1 = Team SoloMid

| RD2b-score1 = 3

| RD2b-seed2 = 4

| RD2b-team2 = 100 Thieves

| RD2b-score2 = 1

| RD3b-seed1 = 3

| RD3b-team1 = Team Liquid

| RD3b-score1 = 3

| RD3b-seed2 = 2

| RD3b-team2 = Team SoloMid

| RD3b-score2 = 1

| RD4-seed1 = 1

| RD4-team1 = Cloud9

| RD4-score1 = 3

| RD4-seed2 = 3

| RD4-team2 = Team Liquid

| RD4-score2 = 2

}}

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

• 1st Team All-Pro:{{cite news |last1=Esguerra |first1=Tyler |title=Team Liquid, Cloud9 players make up 2021 LCS Spring Split All-Pro team |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/team-liquid-cloud9-players-make-up-2021-lcs-spring-split-all-pro-team |access-date=October 7, 2023 |work=Dot Esports |date=March 19, 2021}}
• {{abbr|T|Top}} Alphari, Team Liquid
• {{abbr|J|Jungle}} Blaber, Cloud9
• {{abbr|M|Mid}} Perkz, Cloud9
• {{abbr|B|Bottom}} Zven, Cloud9
• {{abbr|S|Support}} CoreJJ, Team Liquid

{{stack end}}

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

• 2nd Team All-Pro:
• {{abbr|T|Top}} Impact, Evil Geniuses
• {{abbr|J|Jungle}} Santorin, Team Liquid
• {{abbr|M|Mid}} PowerOfEvil, Team SoloMid
• {{abbr|B|Bottom}} FBI, 100 Thieves
• {{abbr|S|Support}} Vulcan, Cloud9

{{stack end}}

{{stack begin|float=left}}

• 3rd Team All-Pro:
• {{abbr|T|Top}} Huni, Team SoloMid
• {{abbr|J|Jungle}} Dardoch, Dignitas
• {{abbr|M|Mid}} Jensen, Team Liquid
• {{abbr|B|Bottom}} Neo, Dignitas
• {{abbr|S|Support}} SwordArt, Team SoloMid

{{stack end}}

{{clear}}

• Most Valuable Player: Blaber, Cloud9{{cite news |last1=Esguerra |first1=Tyler |title=Blaber wins 2021 LCS Spring Split MVP award |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/blaber-wins-2021-lcs-spring-split-mvp-award |access-date=October 7, 2023 |work=Dot Esports |date=April 9, 2021}}
• Coaching Staff of the Split: Cloud9{{cite news |last1=Esguerra |first1=Tyler |title=Cloud9 win coaching staff of the split award for 2021 LCS Spring Split |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/cloud9-win-coaching-staff-of-the-split-award-for-2021-lcs-spring-split |access-date=October 7, 2023 |work=Dot Esports |date=March 26, 2021}}

The Summer Split regular season ran from June 4 to August 1, 2021. The Summer Split regular season featured a triple round robin format, spanning nine weeks of play, where each team faced each other three times. The top eight teams with the highest combined regular season records from both spring and summer secured spots in the LCS Championship playoffs. The top two teams started in the upper bracket semifinals, the following four started in the upper bracket quarterfinals, and the remaining two started in the lower bracket. The LCS Championship playoffs, held from August 7 to 29, featured a double-elimination format. The top team from the playoffs was named the LCS champion, and the top three teams from the playoffs qualified for the 2021 League of Legends World Championship.

Initially, the LCS Championship lower bracket final and grand final were scheduled to be held at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. However, due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the United States, these matches were relocated to the LCS Arena in Los Angeles, California, where they took place without a live audience.{{cite news |last1=Peters |first1=Jay |title=Riot moves League of Legends’ US championship from Prudential Center due to COVID-19 |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/7/22614556/league-of-legends-lcs-us-championship-finals-prudential-center |access-date=November 10, 2023 |work=The Verge |date=August 7, 2021 |language=en}}

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

|for_against_style=none|ranking_style=perc

| update = complete | source = [https://lolesports.com/standings/lcs/lcs_2021/regular_season LoL Esports] ({{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008141739/https://lolesports.com/standings/lcs/lcs_2021/regular_season |date=October 8, 2021}})

| team2 = 100 | name_100 = 100 Thieves

| team4 = C9 | name_C9 = Cloud9

| team10 = CLG | name_CLG = Counter Logic Gaming

| team6 = DIG | name_DIG = Dignitas

| team3 = EG | name_EG = Evil Geniuses

| team9 = FLY | name_FLY = FlyQuest

| team8 = GG | name_GG = Golden Guardians

| team7 = IMT | name_IMT = Immortals

| team5 = TL | name_TL = Team Liquid

| team1 = TSM | name_TSM = Team SoloMid

| win_100 = 29 | loss_100 = 16

| win_C9 = 28 | loss_C9 = 17

| win_CLG = 12 | loss_CLG = 33

| win_DIG = 23 | loss_DIG = 22

| win_EG = 28 | loss_EG = 17

| win_FLY = 14 | loss_FLY = 31

| win_GG = 14 | loss_GG = 31

| win_IMT = 20 | loss_IMT = 25

| win_TL = 27 | loss_TL = 18

| win_TSM = 30 | loss_TSM = 15

| result1 = W2 | result2 = W2

| result3 = WB | result4 = WB

| result5 = WB | result6 = WB

| result7 = LB | result8 = LB

| res_col_header = Q

| col_W2 = green1 | text_W2 = Advance to upper semifinals

| col_WB = green2 | text_WB = Advance to upper quarterfinals

| col_LB = blue1 | text_LB = Advance to lower round 1

}}

{{8TeamBracket-2Elim-A|upperstyle=2

| boldwinner=high

| RD1-seed1=4

| RD1-team1=Cloud9

| RD1-score1=1

| RD1-seed2=5

| RD1-team2=Team Liquid

| RD1-score2=3

| RD1-seed3=3

| RD1-team3=Evil Geniuses

| RD1-score3=3

| RD1-seed4=6

| RD1-team4=Dignitas

| RD1-score4=1

| RD2-seed1=1

| RD2-team1=Team SoloMid

| RD2-score1=1

| RD2-seed2=5

| RD2-team2=Team Liquid

| RD2-score2=3

| RD2-seed3=2

| RD2-team3=100 Thieves

| RD2-score3=3

| RD2-seed4=3

| RD2-team4=Evil Geniuses

| RD2-score4=2

| RD3-seed1=5

| RD3-team1=Team Liquid

| RD3-score1=3

| RD3-seed2=2

| RD3-team2=100 Thieves

| RD3-score2=2

| RD1b-seed1=6

| RD1b-team1=Dignitas

| RD1b-score1=0

| RD1b-seed2=7

| RD1b-team2=Immortals

| RD1b-score2=3

| RD1b-seed3=4

| RD1b-team3=Cloud9

| RD1b-score3=3

| RD1b-seed4=8

| RD1b-team4=Golden Guardians

| RD1b-score4=0

| RD2b-seed1=1

| RD2b-team1=Team SoloMid

| RD2b-score1=3

| RD2b-seed2=7

| RD2b-team2=Immortals

| RD2b-score2=1

| RD2b-seed3=3

| RD2b-team3=Evil Geniuses

| RD2b-score3=0

| RD2b-seed4=4

| RD2b-team4=Cloud9

| RD2b-score4=3

| RD3b-seed1=1

| RD3b-team1=Team SoloMid

| RD3b-score1=2

| RD3b-seed2=4

| RD3b-team2=Cloud9

| RD3b-score2=3

| RD4b-seed1=2

| RD4b-team1=100 Thieves

| RD4b-score1=3

| RD4b-seed2=4

| RD4b-team2=Cloud9

| RD4b-score2=1

| RD5-seed1=5

| RD5-team1=Team Liquid

| RD5-score1=0

| RD5-seed2=2

| RD5-team2=100 Thieves

| RD5-score2=3

}}

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

• 1st Team All-Pro:{{cite news |title=2021 LCS Summer Split Awards |url=https://lolesports.com/article/2021-lcs-summer-split-awards/bltec765d64cd06ccbf |access-date=November 10, 2023 |work=LoL Esports |date=August 6, 2021}}
• {{abbr|T|Top}} Fudge, Cloud9
• {{abbr|J|Jungle}} Spica, Team SoloMid
• {{abbr|M|Mid}} Jiizuke, Evil Geniuses
• {{abbr|B|Bottom}} FBI, 100 Thieves
• {{abbr|S|Support}} CoreJJ, Team Liquid

{{stack end}}

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

• 2nd Team All-Pro:
• {{abbr|T|Top}} Impact, Evil Geniuses
• {{abbr|J|Jungle}} Closer, 100 Thieves
• {{abbr|M|Mid}} Abbedagge, 100 Thieves
• {{abbr|B|Bottom}} Danny, Evil Geniuses
• {{abbr|S|Support}} huhi, 100 Thieves

{{stack end}}

{{stack begin|float=left}}

• 3rd Team All-Pro:
• {{abbr|T|Top}} Huni, Team SoloMid
• {{abbr|J|Jungle}} Blaber, Cloud9
• {{abbr|M|Mid}} PowerOfEvil, Team SoloMid
• {{abbr|B|Bottom}} Tactical, Team Liquid
• {{abbr|S|Support}} Vulcan, Cloud9

{{stack end}}

{{clear}}

• Most Valuable Player: Spica, Team SoloMid{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Michael |title=2023 LCS Summer Split Awards |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/tsm-jungler-spica-wins-2021-lcs-mvp-award |access-date=October 7, 2023 |work=Dot Esports |date=August 27, 2021}}
• Rookie of the Year: Danny, Evil Geniuses{{cite news |last1=Esguerra |first1=Tyler |title=Evil Geniuses ADC Danny wins 2021 LCS Rookie of the Year award |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/evil-geniuses-adc-danny-wins-2021-lcs-rookie-of-the-year-award |access-date=October 7, 2023 |work=Dot Esports |date=August 11, 2021}}
• Most Improved Player: Fudge, Cloud9{{cite news |last1=Esguerra |first1=Tyler |title=Fudge wins 2021 LCS Most Improved Player award |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/fudge-wins-2021-lcs-most-improved-player-award |access-date=October 7, 2023 |work=Dot Esports |date=August 17, 2021}}
• Coaching Staff of the Split: Evil Geniuses{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Michael |title=Evil Geniuses wins 2021 LCS Coaching Staff of the Year award |url=https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/evil-geniuses-wins-2021-lcs-coaching-staff-of-the-year-awardd |access-date=October 7, 2023 |work=Dot Esports |date=August 6, 2021}}

LCS regular season games were played on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with Fridays beginning at 3{{nbsp}}pm{{nbsp}}PT and Saturdays and Sundays at 1{{nbsp}}pm{{nbsp}}PT. A Spanish broadcast was produced by the LCS team FlyQuest.{{cite web |last1=Geracie |first1=Nick |title=FlyQuest to produce Spanish co-stream for 2021 LCS season |url=https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/13219/flyquest-to-produce-spanish-co-stream-for-2021-lcs-season |website=www.invenglobal.com|date=4 February 2021}}

{{Reflist}}

{{League of Legends Championship Series}}

{{2021 in League of Legends competition}}

Category:2021 in esports

Category:2021 multiplayer online battle arena tournaments

Category:League Championship Series (esports) seasons