It's coming down to the wire in the regional Spring Split group stage.
The four major regions in LoL Esports are almost done with its Spring Split group stage games and will be having one eye towards the playoffs and the Mid-Season Invitational. Only the LCS has already begun its playoff run with four teams left standing, but only two will be going to China for MSI.
For the rest of the regions, this will be the final week of group stage games for both the LCK and LEC with the latter only taking place over the weekend. As for the LPL, this will be its second-last week for the group stage as its ninth and final week will only have three days' worth of matches to be played.
And based on the scheduling, we can expect the LCS to finish its Spring Split first, followed by the LCK, then the LEC, and finally the LPL. This makes sense given that MSI is taking place in Chengdu, China from May 1 - 19.
LCS Spring Split - Playoffs
The likes of Cloud9 and FlyQuest will have an opportunity to claim the first of two spots for MSI when they go up against one another in the upper bracket final later in the week. And in the lower bracket, there is still Team Liquid and 100 Thieves to contend with as the winner of this series will go on to face the loser between C9 and FQ. And the winner of the lower bracket final will already guarantee a spot to MSI.
Saturday, March 23
- 100 ThievesvsTeam Liquid - 1:00 p.m. PST
Sunday, March 24
- FlyQuestvsCloud9 - 1:00 p.m. PST
LCK Spring Split - Group Stage
With this being the final week of group stage matches, there are only two teams left in contention for one more spot in the LCK Spring Split playoffs. As it stands, the likes of Gen.G Esports have already solidified its position as the number one seed. Both T1 and Hanwha Life Esports are currently in second and third respectively, followed by KT Rolster and Dplus KIA. And the battle for the sixth and final spot stands between Kwangdong Freecs and FearX.
On paper, it would appear that KDF has the harder schedule of matches for the final week as opposed to FearX. KDF will have to play against the likes of Dplus and KT, two teams who are in a tight fight for the fourth spot. In FearX's case, their matches for this week are against Nongshim RedForce and OKSavingsBank BRION.
Wednesday, March 20
- DRXvsGen.G - 5:00 p.m. KST
- Nongshim RedForcevsT1 - 7:30 p.m. KST
Thursday, March 21
- Hanwha Life EsportsvsKT Rolster - 5:00 p.m. KST
- Dplus KIAvsKwangdong Freecs - 7:30 p.m. KST
Friday, March 22
- Gen.GvsOKSavingsBank BRION - 5:00 p.m. KST
- FearXvsNongshim RedForce - 7:30 p.m. KST
Saturday, March 23
- Dplus KIAvsHanwha Life Esports - 5:00 p.m. KST
- DRXvsT1 - 7:30 p.m. KST
Sunday, March 24
- FearXvsOKSavingsBank BRION - 5:00 p.m. KST
- KT RolstervsKwangdong Freecs - 7:30 p.m. KST
LPL Spring Split - Group Stage
Of the 10 teams that will make its way to the LPL Spring Split playoffs, five have already solidified its place in the next round. This includes two of last season's best teams in Bilibili Gaming and JD Gaming, who are currently first and second respectively. Top Esports in currently third with FunPlus Phoenix close behind in fourth. Given that this is the second-last week of the group stage, it will also be the last time you can check out the LPL group stage broadcast from every Wednesday to Sunday.
Thursday, March 21
- Ninjas In PyjamasvsRare Atom - 5:00 p.m. GMT
- EDward GamingvsUltra Prime - 7:00 p.m. GMT
Friday, March 22
- FunPlus PhoenixvsRoyal Never Give Up - 3:00 p.m. GMT
- ThunderTalk GamingvsTop Esports - 5:00 p.m. GMT
- JD GamingvsWeibo Gaming - 7:00 p.m. GMT
Saturday, March 23
- Invictus Gaming vsOh My God - 3:00 p.m. GMT
- Bilibili GamingvsNinjas In Pyjamas - 5:00 p.m. GMT
- LNG EsportsvsTeam WE - 7:00 p.m. GMT
Sunday, March 24
- LGD GamingvsRare Atom - 3:00 p.m. GMT
- Anyone's LegendvsTop Esports - 5:00 p.m. GMT
- EDward GamingvsJD Gaming - 7:00 p.m. GMT
LEC Spring Split - Group Stage
There's just one more weekend left for the LEC Spring Split group stage and so far, only Fnatic and G2 Esports have done enough to confirm its position to the next phase. Both teams are tied 5-1 at the moment with Fnatic in first after they won the head-to-head match. And with six more spots remaining in the playoffs, this final weekend of games is about to get all the more exciting.
MAD Lions KOI will be one to watch after a great LEC Winter Split performance but now languish in eighth, right behind Karmine Corp. The French-based org were disastrous just a few months ago but have since been much better and could possibly qualify for its first LEC playoffs.
Friday, March 22
- GIANTXvsRogue - 5:00 p.m. CEST
- FnaticvsTeam BDS - 6:00 p.m. CEST
- G2 EsportsvsSK Gaming - 7:00 p.m. CEST
- MAD Lions KOIvsTeam Heretics - 8:00 p.m. CEST
- Karmine CorpvsTeam Vitality - 9:00 p.m. CEST
Saturday, March 23
- FnaticvsSK Gaming - 5:00 p.m. CEST
- GIANTXvsTeam Vitality - 6:00 p.m. CEST
- MAD Lions KOIvsTeam BDS - 7:00 p.m. CEST
- G2 EsportsvsRogue - 8:00 p.m. CEST
- Karmine CorpvsTeam Heretics - 9:00 p.m. CEST
Sunday, March 24
- GIANTXvsTeam Heretics - 5:00 p.m. CEST
- RoguevsSK Gaming - 6:00 p.m. CEST
- FnaticvsMAD Lions KOI - 7:00 p.m. CEST
- G2 EsportsvsTeam Vitality - 8:00 p.m. CEST
- Karmine CorpvsTeam BDS - 9:00 p.m. CEST