can we get a LOCK//IN style tournament again plz

it is way too random = INSANELY FUN to watch, 10x more upsets, more teams to talk about, etc etc

Single-elim is fine with me, LOCK//IN 2023 was super entertaining and thas all i care about. Keep the prize pool low (500k) like LOCK//IN 2023 so we can cover the travel expenses of all teams as well.

also maybe instead of all 44-48 teams, do like top 8 from each region from the previous year (8 * 4 = 32 teams)

side-note (good walkouts unlike champs 2024 also please):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8a7PZxQrIo&t=3575s

Where u been

Unfortunately it would be a logistical nightmare

lock//in would be great as a mega offseason tournament hosted by a third party

goated take

This is a hot take with many flaws (I'm speaking completely irrationally) but CHAMPS SHOULD BE SINGLE ELIM, ITS THE LAST TOURNAMENT THE BEST OF THE BEST SHOULD GO THROUGH NO EXCUSES, NO SECOND CHANCES

48 teams split into 3 pools of 16, each with 4 randomly selected teams per region.
Each pool plays a single elimination bracket, ensuring there are no regional matchups in the RO16 and quarterfinals.
Winner of each pool enters a 3 team single round-robin group to crown the winner.
Optionally, the top 2 of teams in the said round-robin can play an extra game as the grand final instead.

so shitnatic can fluke again? hell no

Aayan [#6]

This is a hot take with many flaws (I'm speaking completely irrationally) but CHAMPS SHOULD BE SINGLE ELIM, ITS THE LAST TOURNAMENT THE BEST OF THE BEST SHOULD GO THROUGH NO EXCUSES, NO SECOND CHANCES

Alteration of that idea: use the FIFA World Cup format. Round robin group stage, single elimination playoffs.

I was thinking it would be cool if there was a lock in mixed with lcq style tournament for maybe a couple of slots at champs. The next four teams that didn’t qualify from each region slug it out for spots

cloudberry [#9]

Alteration of that idea: use the FIFA World Cup format. Round robin group stage, single elimination playoffs.

Yeah I'd be down for this too, I just want playoffs to be single elim, it would also differentiate Champs from Masters tournaments

Aayan [#6]

This is a hot take with many flaws (I'm speaking completely irrationally) but CHAMPS SHOULD BE SINGLE ELIM, ITS THE LAST TOURNAMENT THE BEST OF THE BEST SHOULD GO THROUGH NO EXCUSES, NO SECOND CHANCES

Valid, or lower bracket could make sense if your group placement decided if you go into the upper or lower bracket, therefore making groups more important cause getting the higher spot gives you the way into uppers

Wunkey [#7]

48 teams split into 3 pools of 16, each with 4 randomly selected teams per region.
Each pool plays a single elimination bracket, ensuring there are no regional matchups in the RO16 and quarterfinals.
Winner of each pool enters a 3 team single round-robin group to crown the winner.
Optionally, the top 2 of teams in the said round-robin can play an extra game as the grand final instead.

So just forget the regions and say, "you in t1? Welcome to champs"

Aayan [#6]

This is a hot take with many flaws (I'm speaking completely irrationally) but CHAMPS SHOULD BE SINGLE ELIM, ITS THE LAST TOURNAMENT THE BEST OF THE BEST SHOULD GO THROUGH NO EXCUSES, NO SECOND CHANCES

No there's a reason why people hated the single elim format this year and putting it into the most important tournament of the year? hell no. You just sound like you want it because the last time there was single elim format EMEA won all of them.

_amBrian [#3]

Unfortunately it would be a logistical nightmare

ez fix have EWC host it, unlimited money glitch

Clucker [#13]

So just forget the regions and say, "you in t1? Welcome to champs"

No it's a LOCK//IN event, like they did in 2023.

they should do like an exhibition lock in type tournament but then that would force teams to have a roster ready before december and they also wouldnt want to take away from GC hype doing it at the end of the year now that the VCT year is January-October

DBStudios [#14]

No there's a reason why people hated the single elim format this year and putting it into the most important tournament of the year? hell no. You just sound like you want it because the last time there was single elim format EMEA won all of them.

You just sound like you want it because the last time there was single elim format EMEA won all of them.

That's not true, I've easily watched more NA than EMEA, I'm happy to root for any region. Also it makes no difference, EMEA teams aren't just magically better at single elim.

The reason why so many people hated single elim this year was because it was regionally, which I hate too, this year I'll forgive for having to work around an odd number of teams, but I'll sure as hell be complaining if we continued with it next year. The Playoffs format of the most important tournament of the year is the exact same as the format for the other 2 events, which makes only the number of teams the competitive difference, which is mitigated by a double elimination bracket anyway. Single Elim at Champs however would actually solve a lot of problems, too few games in the venue? fixed, Higher stakes for each game? yup. It'll make one off upsets way more exciting as a favourite knocked in to the lowers can't just reap the lower bracket, from an analytical viewpoint sure single elim is worse, but as a fan it's got so much more entertainment value, and at the end of the day viewership is what makes investors invest, not the number of armchair analysts who think they can be the next up and coming tier 1 coach.