Format

Why does the 2025 format not look like longer splits?

I've watched clips from different pros talking about how the season functions (prior to the 2025 announcement) and it doesn't really feel like Riot delivered. Perspective 1 from pros was the breaks weren't long enough for masters attenders, and Perspective 2 was not enough games. The issue is if you just add breaks, the bad teams are still going to grind for 2 months without getting a single official to play, and (I think Ethan said this, someone from NRG) but the games are just too valuable and stressful currently, simply by their scarcity. I don't think this is a good prospect for the future of the esport.

So, as an armchair analyst with no tournament planning experience, here is what I'd do/change, with the mindset of maximizing games and useful breaks.

Kickoff - I like it's placement (2nd/3rd week of January) and the format of a double elim bracket. This should not take 3 weeks. My personal idea for kickoff/M1 is to brand it around pure teamplay, making kickoff a much faster bracket and getting all the games done in about 2 weeks. Counter-strat quality will be down, that's fine. This tournament optimizes the idea of testing and succeeding with you teams chemistry, meta read, and mechanics, alongside rewarding in-game adaptation more than the primary splits would. Getting M1 and kickoff done by the end of February would give enough space to add more games in the splits.

Split 1 and 2 format - There are two main ideas: 2 groups, play 5 games split 1 and 6 games split 2 against each side, or just play all the teams in a constant double game week. Of these two ideas both of them are objectively wrong. We are taking 5/6 weeks per split and either packing in mad games or no games. May I introduce the 2-1 format, the best format. 11 games, 7 weeks. A double game week into a single game week. We get all the same games as a pure double by adding 1 weeks and way more spaced games during the split. 2-1-2-1-2-1-2. Every team plays eachother, with more breaks during the actual split so the quality of play can stay at a good level. Like c'mon this is just the best option. The two weeks saved by having kickoff go fast basically sets everything on the same schedule for the rest of the year, but it just straight up doubles the games per split, which makes each game worth less and lets each team get more from their seasons. It also allows for split 1 and 2 to be seperate standings wise, which I think the communtiy was vocal about wanting. I just think this is better.

Again, not an expert, just a fan who thinks this brings much more upside to the season. Also, rebrand the masters tournaments. They don't mean as much as champs so Riot is overdue on making them each a seperate entiity that would bring more value to winning each one.

i (maybe) agree

did not read allat but just going to say casters and event organizers also need a break

I completely agree.

donkkomong [#3]

did not read allat but just going to say casters and event organizers also need a break

All the regions have well enough established networks of casters to cover more games.

I mean, I don't know how riot pay structures work, but making more games and having games occur a little more would help the stress of organized personnel relating to maintaining employment (in theory, them handling more games would make their worm more valuble to them internally and give more reason to Riot to keep them employed). It's also allow riot to add more staff, and I like when people get jobs. So yes, it'd be marginally more work for the staff, but they'd also accure monetary or personal gain from a seasonal adjustment.

I never liked the idea of teams playing 1 game a week in regular season group stages and the entire playoffs is completed in 7-10 days
there should be more games every week but riot won't do it because of logistics reason

Wronghand [#5]

All the regions have well enough established networks of casters to cover more games.

I mean, I don't know how riot pay structures work, but making more games and having games occur a little more would help the stress of organized personnel relating to maintaining employment (in theory, them handling more games would make their worm more valuble to them internally and give more reason to Riot to keep them employed). It's also allow riot to add more staff, and I like when people get jobs. So yes, it'd be marginally more work for the staff, but they'd also accure monetary or personal gain from a seasonal adjustment.

I understood what you said but your spelling and grammar are a bit off in some places xd

They can play however they want with stage 1 (use 2 groups or any different format), but stage 2 must be a full round robin if they want best teams at champs, otherwise its all about luck.
PLEASE no more 8 teams at masters.