These are the first 2021 LCS summer playoff matchups and dates

A long LCS season is coming to a close with the 2021 LCS Summer Split playoffs right around the corner. 

Unlike in other seasons, this year’s LCS teams have played more games than usual and have had their summer standings combined with the results from the spring split. This leaves the top eight throughout the season for the upcoming playoffs, which consists of a very competitive bracket to decide who will take home the LCS trophy and represent North America at the 2021 World Championship. 

2021 LCS Summer playoff matchups and dates

Unlike the LEC and LCK, the LCS will have eight teams compete in the playoffs in a double-elimination bracket. All matches will be best-of-five and will therefore feature a lot of games to keep track of. Based on seeding, the eight teams have been placed in the upper and lower brackets, with the top-two seeds in TSM and 100 Thieves being qualified directly to the second round of the upper bracket. 

With this format, a few lower-seeded teams will also get a shot in the playoffs but will both start in the lower bracket. This split, it is Golden Guardians and Immortals who will look to make the miracle run through the lower bracket, but the journey will be long and difficult. 

Some of the LCS playoff teams won’t have a lot of time to catch their breath as the first round will be played this week beginning Saturday, August 7. The first round will only consist of games from the upper bracket, which means that four of the eight playoff teams will have time to prepare for an extra week.  

Schedule for the first rounds of the LCS Summer playoffs:

Saturday, August 7: 

• Evil Geniuses vs. Dignitas

Sunday, August 8: 

• Cloud9 vs. Team Liquid

Thursday, August 12:

• Immortals vs. TBD

Friday, August 13:

• Golden Guardians vs. TBD

Saturday, August 14: 

• 100 Thieves vs. TBD

Sunday, August 15: 

• TSM vs. TBD

With a total of 12 best-of-five series ahead, the LCS playoffs will run for the next three weeks and will conclude with the grand final on Sunday, August 29, which will be played live at the Prudential Center in New Jersey.

The first matchup in the playoffs will be this Saturday between Evil Geniuses and Dignitas.