Spring 2022 was a historic success for the Proving Grounds circuit — we had the most team applicants in a single split, hosted three best-of-fives at the LCS Studio, and watched in awe as two Proving Grounds 2021 prospects, Danny and jojopyun, lifted the LCS Trophy with Evil Geniuses in Houston. The North American Academy and Amateur ecosystem is teeming with future stars, and now, it’s time to get the Summer Season started!
Can Team Liquid Academy defend their title? Will 100 Thieves Academy meet TLA in the Grand Final for the third straight split? Will an Amateur squad break the Academy titans? You’ll need to follow along and find out, as the LCS stars of tomorrow showcase their skills on the road to Proving Grounds Summer.
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Where to Watch
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We have three new additions to our broadcast for the Summer Season.
We are excited to welcome Esports Engine as the official broadcast partner for the Summer Season. Esports Engine has a proven track record of bringing world-class experiences to fans across the globe, and we know they’ll deliver fans a top tier broadcast for Academy and Amateur.
All matches will continue to stream exclusively on **Twitch**. As always, you can catch matches on the primary [Twitch.tv/Academy][1] channel, and make sure you follow our new (!!) alt channel, [Twitch.tv/PathToLCS][2] for even more Academy and Proving Grounds action.
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NEW (!!) – Watch Parties
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[1]: https://www.twitch.tv/academy
[2]: http://Twitch.tv/PathToLCS
We’re proud to announce that **Watch Parties** are now available for Academy and Proving Grounds! Interested co-streamers can [review the complete guidelines and apply here][1]. Basic eligibility requirements include:
- Co-streamers must be located in North America
- Co-streamers and their guests must be 18+ years of age
- Co-streaming is only available in English
- Co-streaming is only available on Twitch and YouTube
- Co-streamers are responsible for ensuring that any accompanied chat is adequately moderated
- Co-streamers must respect the Prohibited Sponsor and Advertiser List
- Co-streaming must comply with Riot Games Legal Jibber Jabber and the terms of service on your respective streaming platform.
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Academy
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**Format & Schedule: June 8 - July 29**
The Academy Summer Split format remains the same as Spring Split: a double round robin with best-of-two matches. The schedule has been consolidated into seven weeks (down from eight in Spring), with a break between Weeks 4 and 5. Four weeks of Academy will have matches scheduled from Wednesday through Friday, with the matches during the remaining three weeks on Wednesdays and Thursdays only. **All match day broadcasts begin at 1pm PT.**
[1]: https://forms.gle/Vs8KiUpUSNQQd5mv7
- **Week 1:** June 8 - 10
- **Week 2:** June 15 - 16
- **Week 3:** June 22 - 24
- **Week 4:** June 29 - 30
**BREAK WEEK**
- **Week 5:** July 13 - 15
- **Week 6:** July 20 - 21
- **Week 7:** July 27 - 29
All 10 Academy teams automatically advance to Proving Grounds Summer, with the bottom four teams seeded into Play In matches against the bottom four Amateur seeds.
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Proving Grounds
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**Proving Grounds Circuit Events Format & Schedule: May 23 - August 2**
Like Spring, Proving Grounds Circuit Events will run adjacent to the Academy Spring Split.
In the Main Stage, beginning May 30, teams will be sorted into four GSL groups, with the top two teams from each group moving on to a single-elimination bracket. All teams that play in Circuit Events will earn Proving Grounds Circuit Points. At the end of two Circuit Events, the 10 teams with the most Circuit Points will be seeded into the Proving Grounds bracket with the 10 Academy teams.
All **Proving Grounds Circuit Events** will take place on **Mondays** and **Tuesdays**, with the broadcasts beginning at **3pm PT** each day —presented by [Unified][1], the official partner of the Proving Grounds Circuit Events.
- **Proving Grounds Circuit Event 1 — Open Qualifier**
- May 23 - 24
- **Proving Grounds Circuit Event 1 — GSL Groups**
- May 30 - 31
- June 6 - 7
- June 13
- **Proving Grounds Circuit Event 1 — Bracket Stage**
- **Quarterfinals (Bo3):** June 14
- **Semifinals (Bo3):** June 20
- **Finals (Bo5):** June 21
- **Proving Grounds Circuit Event 2 — Open Qualifier**
- June 27 - 28
**BREAK WEEK**
- **Proving Grounds Circuit Event 2 — GSL Groups**
- July 11-12
- July 18 - 19
- July 25
- **Proving Grounds Circuit Event 2 — Bracket Stage**
- **Quarterfinals (Bo3):** July 26
- **Semifinals (Bo3):** August 1
- **Finals (Bo5):** August 2
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Proving Grounds Format & Schedule: August 3 - August 31
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The capstone event of Summer Academy and Amateur competition, Proving Grounds Summer, is a 20-team, double elimination bracket that pits all 10 Academy teams against the top 10 points holders from the Amateur Proving Grounds Circuit Events. The bottom four Academy seeds will face the bottom four Amateur seeds in four single elimination, best-of-three Play In matches to enter the main bracket. The final four teams will play their remaining matches on LAN at the LCS Studio, where we’ll crown a Proving Grounds Summer Champion.
While the double-elimination bracket-style tournament format has not changed, we heard the community feedback around seeding, and have adjusted it to better reflect the relative strength of Academy teams versus Amateur.
[1]: https://twitter.com/UnifiedEA
**Round 1 (All Matches Best-of-Three)**
*All times Pacific*
[Match P1] August 3, 3:00 PM: Academy #10 Seed vs. Amateur #7 Seed
[Match P3] August 3, 3:00 PM: Academy #7 Seed vs. Amateur #10 Seed
[Match P2] August 3, ~5:00 PM: Academy #8 Seed vs. Amateur #9 Seed
[Match P4] August 3, ~5:00 PM: Academy #9 Seed vs. Amateur #8 Seed
**Round 2 (All Matches Best-of-Three)**
*All times Pacific*
[Match A2] August 4, 3:00 PM: Academy #4 Seed vs. Amateur #3 Seed
[Match A6] August 4, 3:00 PM: Academy #2 Seed vs. Amateur #5 Seed
[Match A3] August 4, ~5:00 PM: Academy #1 Seed vs. Amateur #6 Seed
[Match A7] August 4, ~5:00 PM: Academy #3 Seed vs. Amateur #4 Seed
[Match A1] August 5, 3:00 PM: Academy #5 Seed vs. Winner of Match P1
[Match A5] August 5, 3:00 PM: Winner of P3 vs. Amateur #2 Seed
[Match A4] August 5, ~5:00 PM: Winner of P2 vs. Amateur #1 Seed
[Match A8] August 5, ~5:00 PM: Academy #6 Seed vs. Winner of P4
**Round 3 (All Matches Best-of-Three)**
*All times Pacific*
[Match A9] August 8, 3:00 PM: Winner of A1 vs. Winner of A2
[Match A10] August 8, ~5:00 PM: Winner of A3 vs. Winner of A4
[Match A11] August 9, 3:00 PM: Winner of A5 vs. Winner of A6
[Match A12] August 9, ~5:00 PM: Winner of A7 vs. Winner of A8
[Match L1] August 10, 3:00 PM: Loser of A1 vs. Loser of A2
[Match L2] August 10, ~5:00 PM: Loser of A3 vs. Loser of A4
[Match L3] August 11, 3:00 PM: Loser of A5 vs. Loser of A6
[Match L4] August 11, ~5:00 PM: Loser of A7 vs. Loser of A8
**Rounds 4 & 5 (All Matches Best-of-Three)**
*All times Pacific*
[Match L5] August 16, 3:00 PM: Winner of L1 vs. Loser of A12
[Match L6] August 16, ~5:00 PM: Winner of L2 vs. Loser of A11
[Match L7] August 17, 3:00 PM: Winner of L3 vs. Loser of A10
[Match L8] August 17, ~5:00 PM: Winner of L4 vs. Loser of A9
[Match A13] August 18, 3:00 PM: Winner of A9 vs. Winner of A10
[Match A14] August 18, ~5:00 PM: Winner of A11 vs. Winner of A12
[Match L9] August 19, 3:00 PM: Winner of L5 vs. Winner of L6
[Match L10] August 19, ~5:00 PM: Winner of L7 vs. Winner of L8
**Rounds 6 - 9 (All Matches Best-of-Five)**
[Match A15] August 22, 3:00 PM: Winner of A13 vs. Winner of A14
[Match L11] August 23, 3:00 PM: Winner of L9 vs. Loser of A13
[Match L12] August 24, 3:00 PM: Winner of L10 vs. Loser of A14
[Match L13**] August 29, 3:00 PM: Winner of L11 vs. Winner of L12
[Match L14**] August 30, 3:00 PM: Winner of L13 vs. Loser of A15
[Match A16**] August 31, 3:00 PM: Winner of A15 vs. Winner of L14
***Note: Matches L13, L14 and A16 will be held at the LCS Studio*
