The 2021 LCK Summer Split return date is now set
With the 2021 Mid-Season Invitational now done, fans won’t have to wait long before League of Legends’ top regional leagues to return.
One of the most anticipated leagues to follow will be Korea’s LCK after DWG KIA lost the MSI final to Royal Never Give Up. Many people expected DWG KIA to take home another trophy, but this didn’t happen. This leaves a lot of questions surrounding DWG KIA, and opens the door for competition in the LCK.
With only a few weeks before the LCK starts, teams won’t have much more time to prepare. Most teams have had a long break and are probably already preparing for the next split, but DWG KIA isn’t so lucky. The defending world champion will only have a few days to prepare after returning from Iceland. This might show in the team’s performance early in the split, and the margin for error will be slim in the perpetually stacked region.
As per usual, the league will have the 10 best Korean teams competing for the trophy. Furthermore, the summer split will be the last before the 2021 World Championship. This usually makes the competition even more intense, as everyone will be fighting for one of the coveted spots. This year, the LCK will be granted four spots to the World Championship based on international performances.
With their win, RNG has earned the LPL a fourth spot at Worlds 2021.
Additionally, after DK’s second place finish at MSI, the LCK is now ranked second in historical performance, so they will also have a fourth spot at Worlds.
— LoL Esports (@lolesports)
May 23, 2021
Four spots will be given to both the LCK and the LPL. With this many LCK and LPL representatives at the 2021 World Championship, it’s looking to be more competitive than ever. Not only are DWG KIA and RNG expected to return to the international stage, but many other prominent teams will follow along.
It leaves both the LEC and LCS with fewer spots at the tournament, after failing to perform at the highest level in recent events. The LEC is still the region performing the best, with MAD Lions making it to the semifinals at MSI. LCS, on the other hand, is falling further behind and will desperately look for a deep run at Worlds.
Before more international action can happen, the four major regions will play out their respective summer splits. With the LCK starting on June 9, most leagues seem to be set to restart at around the same time. The only league missing is the LPL, whose start date is still unknown.
Read Also
League of Legends
Is Voice Chat Coming to League of Legends in 2026?
Ben Boland
After a decade of being opposed to it, Riot has finally taken steps to implement voice chat in League of Legends. However, the launch of voice chat in LoL has been delayed as the feature is experiencing setbacks. Here’s a rundown of the situation. Earlier this year, players discovered voice chat-related files on the LoL Player Beta Environment (PBE). Following them, Riot communicated on March 13 that they were now ...
League of Legends
LoL: Europe Shines Against Korea in 2026 As NA Struggles To Keep Pace
Ben Boland
In 2026, Europe has had its best results against the East in LoL Esports history. While their losses to North America may overshadow their achievements, EU has a winning record against South Korea this year. Meanwhile, NA has the LEC’s number but has its worst head-to-head against the East since 2023 — here I will break down the key statistics that show this. After years of Europe being a shell ...
League of Legends
Which League of Legends Region Will Win 2026 Worlds?
Hannan Mundia
The League of Legends World Championship is easily the game’s most important annual tournament. The top teams from every major region compete for a chance to win the substantial cash prize and etch their names in League of Legends history. This year will be no different, with the 2026 Worlds coming beginning on October 15. Teams from multiple regions have already qualified for the tournament, though their performances throughout the ...
Esports Betting
Cloud9 vs LYON LCS Summer Playoffs Upper Bracket: Best Bets and Predictions
Ben Boland
It’s a great time to be a League of Legends esports bettor with the LCS Summer playoffs heating up. We have Cloud9 looking to slay their playoff demons against LYON, a side that is looking to win their third straight championship. With LYON picking Cloud9 as their opponent, perhaps they are extremely confident they will get the job done, or are they underestimating the boys in blue? Stay tuned as ...
League of Legends
Team Liquid vs FlyQuest: Predictions & Best Bets for the LCS Summer Playoffs
Ben Boland
With the LCS Summer Playoffs heating up, Team Liquid is looking to make history with a surprise win over FlyQuest this weekend. It would mean TL would be competing at Worlds 2026 on home soil for the first time in the organisation's history. For FlyQuest, this is a chance to progress ahead of schedule with their young squad, getting some valuable reps on the biggest stage esports has to offer. ...
Esports Betting
Gen.G vs HLE: Best betting odds and picks for LCK 2026 grand final
Hannan Mundia
The 2026 LCK grand final will see HLE challenge Gen.G to determine which team walks away with the first-place prize, giving the winning team a much-needed confidence boost before the World Championship. After every top professional Korean League of Legends team has poured sweat and time, this year’s LCK split is finally about to conclude. The grand final match will be between the powerhouse team Gen.G and the challenging Hanwha ...
Esports Betting
Here Are My Predictions For The Hanwha Life Esports vs T1 LCK Lower Final
Ben Boland
LCK fans are in for a treat as Hanwha Life Esports and T1 both battle for a ticket to the grand final, where Gen.G awaits. The last time these two met, they tore the house down. I expect more of the same this time in the lower final. Here are the best bets to make on HLE vs T1 in the LCK 2026 Summer Playoffs Lower Final at GG.BET, one ...
