With Riot Games calling time on the OPL late last year, it looked to be the end for Oceanic League of Legends. However, ESL and Guinevere Capital have allied to bring the brand new LoL Circuit Oceania (LCO) to life, featuring all eight former OPL teams in a brand new tournament starting February 23.
The tournament itself will take place over eight weeks and nineteen game days, with the top five teams at the end of the double round robin stage advancing to a double elimination knockout at the end of March.
The Grand Finals will take place a week later, with the title of inaugural LCO champions and a spot at the Mid-Season Invitational on the line.
OCE WILL NOT BE SILENCED. // FEBRUARY 2021🤫 pic.twitter.com/1IylPjXd1p
— Soon™ (@LoLCircuitOCE) February 3, 2021
“We’re excited to build up the LCO and create the strongest and most entertaining League of Legends competition that the region has ever seen,” said Peter Du, LCO League Manager and Senior Project Manager at ESL Australia.
“This is a new opportunity for Oceanic League of Legends talent to step up and begin their pathway to the world stage, while playing in the sort of competition that every LoL esports fan wants to watch.”
All games will be broadcast from ESL’s new studios, and while some familiar faces are sure to return to the casting desk, ESL says to expect newcomers as well.
With some of Oceania’s greatest players now forging a career in the LCS and other regional competitions, the way has been cleared for rising talent to stake a claim back home. There very well could be a renaissance of sorts for Oceanic League of Legends.
“While it’s been great to see Australia and New Zealand talent competing in other regions over the past few weeks, we are looking forward to having this region’s homegrown competition back on February 23,” said Dave Harris, Managing Director of Guinevere Capital.
“It’s taken a huge amount of work to get to this stage and we really want to thank all the players, teams, brands and fans who are ensuring 2021 is Oceania’s biggest year yet for competitive [League].”
With OCE players ruling the Rift overseas and the future of our region safe for now, Oceanic League of Legends fans truly have a reason to raise their koalas once more.
