League of Legends Champions Korea Undergoes Big Changes

League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) announced sweeping changes aimed at strengthening Korea's esports ecosystem. Major changes include an increase in the prize pool, a change in the playoff format, the creation of the Challengers League, and an increase in the minimum wage for players and coaches. Along with these announced changes, LCK has brought in Secretlab and HP Omen as sponsors.

LCK will increase the League's prize pool available to teams in 2021. If last season LCK raffled off $ 276 thousand, then in 2021 the prize fund will be $ 368 thousand. In addition, the team that took first place will receive not $ 92 thousand, but $ 183 thousand. Also, the team that will take second place will receive $ 92 thous.

League of Legends Champions Korea has significantly changed its playoff format for 2021 to allow more teams to reach the final. Last year, the regular season winner received a direct ticket to the final. Now, the top six-placed teams in the regular season will battle each other in a stand-alone tournament to determine who will be in the final.

Regarding the regular season, two BO3 matches will be played every day. The first round matches will be played five days a week (Wednesday-Sunday), and starting from the second round, matches will be played four days a week (Thursday-Sunday). The first match of the in-game day will begin at 5 pm ET.

One of the most interesting changes will be a significant increase in player and coach salaries at LCK. The player's minimum wage has tripled since last year, rising from $ 18,000 to $ 55,000, while coaches are now guaranteed a $ 37,000 minimum wage.

Other rule changes for 2021 surround the league's lineups. Under the new 2021 ruleset, LCK and LCK CL teams are now free to swap players.

Meanwhile, in 2021, the League entered into agreements with Secretlab and HP Omen along with Woori Bank, Mcdonald's and Logitech.