Riot Reveals Format Changes to 2024 EMEA Masters Summer Split

Riot Games has implemented significant structural adjustments to the 2024 EMEA Masters Summer Split, responding directly to feedback from the League of Legends esports community regarding the original format announced in March. The updated tournament, scheduled to run from July 31 to August 30, 2024, aims to enhance competitive integrity and ensure fairer regional representation across the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) region.

The revised format features a 60-team structure organized into three distinct phases: a Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ), a new Swiss Stage, and the Playoffs. The LCQ will involve 32 teams competing in four randomly drawn, single-elimination brackets, with regional protection measures in place. The top performers from this stage will advance to the Swiss Stage, joining 28 teams that qualified automatically. The Swiss Stage requires teams to secure four wins to reach the Playoffs, while four losses result in elimination. The final 16 teams will then compete in a single-elimination bracket to determine the ultimate winner.

Slot distribution has been recalibrated to reward consistent performance. Accredited European Regional Leagues (ERLs) are allocated six slots each, with three teams qualifying directly for the Swiss Stage and three for the LCQ. Non-accredited ERLs receive four slots, with their specific path to the Swiss Stage or LCQ determined by their performance in recent events. These changes introduce more best-of-five matches throughout the tournament, providing a more robust competitive environment for participants.