According to Sheep Esports, starting in 2025, the LCS, LLA, and CBLOL leagues will merge into a new two-conference league called the League of Legends Championship of the Americas (LTA), which will be divided into North and South conferences. LTA North (LTAN) will include six teams from the LCS, one team from the LLA, and one guest team that must defend its spot at the end of the season. LTA South (LTAS) will feature six CBLOL teams, one team from the LLA, and another guest team. LTAN games will be held in Los Angeles, while LTAS will take place in São Paulo.
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New Format and Rules
The main changes involve roster rules: while most players must still be residents of their conference, one of the three can now be from any country in the Americas. This innovation broadens opportunities for teams, opening access to a wider pool of players.
First Split: Swift Eliminations and New Challenges
The first split kicks off on January 25 and will follow a Double Elimination system with BO3 matches and a Fearless Draft mode. After the initial matches, four teams from each conference will exit the tournament, and the remaining ones will head to Brazil for the knockout stage. The semifinals and finals will be in BO5 format, and the winner will secure a spot in an international tournament.
Second Split: Classic System and MSI Preparation
The second split will follow the European LEC leagues format. Teams from each conference will play a round-robin with BO1 matches, after which the top six teams will compete in a knockout playoff to determine the LTAN and LTAS champions. These champions will represent their regions at MSI.
Third Split: "Pick & Play"
The format for the third split will be the most experimental. Teams will select opponents live after each round, determining the dynamics. Winning teams move to the next stage, while weaker teams choose opponents from the more successful ones. By the end of the sixth week, the top three teams from each conference will be determined, who will then face off in the Americas Regional Championship (ARC).
At the end of the week, teams with the worst series and game results will choose opponents with better results. A challenge to a team already played against is not possible, and the second stage will serve as a tiebreaker. After the third week, the elimination stage begins. Four teams in the lower half of the table will fight for survival, while the top teams are temporarily safe.
Here, the selection process reverses: teams with the best records choose opponents to extend their survival. By the end of the sixth week, only three teams in each conference will remain. The top three teams from LLAS will head north to participate in the 2025 Americas Regional Championship (ARC). All six teams will compete for the first LTA trophy there. The top conference teams will enter the regional tournament with a guaranteed qualification for Worlds, while the others will fight for the last spot in the ARC.
LTA: A New Format and Regional Unification to Enhance Competition in League of Legends
The creation of LTA marks a new phase for professional League of Legends in the Americas. The integration and unique split formats bring a fresh perspective to the tournament, increasing competition and attracting viewer interest. For the first time, teams from different American regions will compete for a common trophy, and creative innovations like "Pick & Play" promise exciting and unpredictable matches. The new championship not only expands opportunities for players and teams but also fosters stronger connections among fan communities across the Americas.
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