“Did Not Meet Our Expectations”: LEC Commissioner Vows Significant Reforms Following Unsatisfying Summer Split

LEC Commissioner Artem Bykov has openly admitted that the format of the 2025 Summer Split did not meet expectations amid considerable backlash from both players and fans.

Bykov also revealed that modifications are already underway for the 2026 LEC season.

«We want to be transparent about it. The Summer Split format did not resonate as we had anticipated, and it will not be returning next year,» Bykov stated on X (formerly Twitter). «We are also exploring ways to expand the number of competition days throughout the year in 2026,» he continued, addressing the primary concerns that compared the number of LEC matches unfavorably to China’s LPL and Korea’s LCK.

Significant changes are imminent for LEC’s next Split.

This admission comes after weeks of heavy criticism from professional players, including GiantX’s Noah and members of NAVI, as well as numerous fans, who criticized the lengthy gaps between matches and the overall pacing of the schedule.

Bykov clarified the community’s growing dissatisfaction with best-of-one matches, explaining that the «limited calendar window between MSI/EWC and the Madrid Finals» made it challenging for the European league to completely avoid this format.

Many fans speculated that the unpopular scheduling of Monday and Tuesday matches was linked to conflicts with the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT), assuming that both events competing for the same venue was the reason for the scheduling issues. However, Bykov provided data showing that only four of the 23 weeks this year were impacted by such overlaps.

The VCT EMEA and LEC share the same venue during some weeks.

Nevertheless, he acknowledged that even those few weeks contributed to an ongoing feeling of disruption, making the entire Summer Split seem off to viewers, especially during the LEC matches on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Among the numerous changes planned for 2026, the Commissioner confirmed that they are looking into hosting some matches online alongside their traditional offline schedule, allowing for more games without needing the studio while ensuring an optimal viewing experience for fans.

This candid response is likely to be well-received by a frustrated community, providing a clear acknowledgment of a miscalculation and a commitment to enhancing the experience for both fans and players. More details regarding the revamped format will be shared after the conclusion of the Split.

The playoffs for the LEC Summer Split 2025 will commence with the lower bracket match between Team Heretics and Team Vitality on Friday, September 5.