Riot Korea is taking a new direction in 2021 and implementing a single-elimination, double bracket format for the LCK playoffs.
Like previous years, the Korean league will return to a best-of-three double-round robin in the regular season. But when it comes to the playoffs, the top six teams (up from five) will qualify.
In the new playoff format, the fourth and fifth-place teams will play a best-of-five on one side of the bracket, while the third and sixth-place teams will play a best-of-five on the other. The loser of each match will drop out of the competition and the winners will advance to the next stage of the playoffs.
The first-place team from the regular season will then play the winner of one bracket and the second-place squad will play the winner of the other. The winners of those matches will then face off in a best-of-five in the finals.
The LCK considered following suit with the LCS and LEC and adopting a double-elimination playoff format. But due to scheduling and conflict with international tournaments, the league decided otherwise.
The Korean league will get underway soon with the 2021 Spring Split, which runs from Jan. 13 to March 28.
Make sure to follow us on YouTube for more esports news and analysis.
