TL;DR:
Tier 1 changes open up new opportunities for Tier 2
Tier 2 will support two conferences of two leagues, for a total of four competitive leagues: North (NACL & LRN) and South (CBLOL Academy & LRS)
Tier 2 leagues will use a two-split format that runs alongside Tier 1’s Split 2 & 3
Teams qualify through performance, with promotion and relegation
Full Fearless format for all Tier 2 leagues in Split 1
Earlier this year, we announced that the LCS, CBLOL, and LLA are uniting to form a new league across the Americas region under a two-conference model. In addition to strengthening the Tier 1 ecosystem, this new structure also aims to streamline and enhance the Path to Pro with the introduction of Tier 1 guest slots for teams that qualify through the Tier 2 system. Here, we'll explore the strengths of Tier 2, its significance, and what fans can look forward to.
The Importance of Tier 2
Tier 2 is crucial in providing a clear and accessible pathway to professional play for aspiring athletes. It plays a significant role in nurturing regional talent, which is vital for the long-term sustainability of our competitive ecosystem. Over the past few years, we've seen clear examples across the Americas where players who began their careers in leagues like NACL and CBLOL Academy quickly rose to the top of their region's teams. This accelerated development, facilitated by competing in our highly competitive tournaments, enables teams to discover new talent more quickly, creating a win-win situation that we believe will propel our region even further in the coming years.
Looking ahead, we recognize the importance of fast-tracking the growth of emerging talent. We are excited to re-establish the connection between Tier 2 and Tier 1 by offering Tier 2 players and organizations the ultimate incentive: a one-year slot in the Americas league.
Deep Dive into the Tier 2 Structure
The Americas Tier 2 system will support two conferences, each with two leagues, resulting in a total of four competitive leagues: North (NACL & LRN) and South (CBLOL Academy & LRS).
North America and Brazil will continue with their existing Tier-2 leagues (NACL and CBLOL Academy) running their seasons with two splits each. However, Latin America will be restructuring their existing Tier 2 qualifiers to transform them into fully fledged Tier 2 leagues with additional support:
LRN (Liga Regional Norte) will feature teams from Latin America North, including Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and Colombia.
LRS (Liga Regional Sur) will consist of teams from Latin America South, including Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay.
At the end of the competitive season, the Tier-1 Promotion Tournament will host cross-tier matchups, where the top two Tier-2 teams from each regional league and the Guest Team from each Tier-1 Conference will battle for the Guest slot in the upcoming season, for a total of 5 teams participating per promotion tournament.
Tier 2 Format and Tier 1 Promotion Tournament Structure
The Full Fearless format, which has been tested in a few regions around the world (including North America in NACL and Brazil in CBLOL Academy) has received positive feedback in 2024. As such, every Americas Tier 2 first split will feature Full Fearless.
Tier 2 will maintain a two-split format to ensure fulfilling competitive splits and qualifier tournaments. The full schedule will be released at a later date.
The Tier 1 Promotion Tournament is designed to balance several factors. The defending T1 Guest Slot team will have an advantage in the bracket but must still compete to re-earn their spot, ensuring no auto-requalification. Each promotion bracket will feature the top 2 teams from each respective Tier 2 league, maintaining regional representation.
Teams promoted to Tier 1 will adopt a business model similar to that of partner teams in both Tier 1 conferences, enabling them to remain competitive and sustainably invest in their operations. Additionally, they will have the opportunity to qualify for international events, including Worlds.
We're excited about the updates to Tier 2 and its renewed connection with Tier 1 in the Americas League. We believe it has the potential to serve as a powerful developmental platform for aspiring professional players, providing them with the right opportunities and support—from teams and the league—to fast-track their growth, hone additional skills, and prepare them for Tier 1. By establishing a dynamic pathway to professionalism across all regions in the Americas, we're opening a new chapter for our league, and we're confident it will guide us into the future.
Americas Challengers Tournament
If you're looking forward to Tier 2 in 2025, don't miss our first Pan-Americas tournament! We'll closely monitor this inaugural event to evaluate how it might integrate into the new Tier 2 system for next year.
Amateur/Tier 3 Integration
Going forward, all four Tier 2 Americas leagues will feature dedicated qualifiers. We aim to increase accessibility by streamlining qualifiers and making it easier to compete. Our goal is to enable every player to compete for a chance to promote into our ecosystem, so that everyone and their friends can sign-up. These qualifier tournaments aim to provide continuous opportunities for new players and teams to promote into Tier 2.
Tier 1 Sister Teams & Collegiate Teams
Tier 1 Sister Teams & Collegiate Teams play a crucial role in providing stability and development opportunities for aspiring professional players. As we develop our Tier 2 ecosystem, it's important to keep these teams involved. However, these teams also bring specific challenges, especially with the introduction of a Tier 1 Promotion system. We want to find a way to allow these teams to participate in Tier 2, but it may be in a limited capacity. We will share more information later this year.
