NRG’s Success Sparks Call for Change in International LoL Schedule
Recently, CEO of NRG Esports Andy Miller made a bold suggestion to the League of Legends (LoL) community and Riot Games developers: take another look at the international LoL schedule. Miller expressed his belief that the current structure of international competitions doesn’t accurately represent the competitive scene or the interests of the community. He specifically highlighted the success of NRG Esports in 2021 as a reason for his call-to-action. In this post, we’ll delve into NRG’s success and what Miller hopes to accomplish with his recent statement.
NRG Esports is a North American organization that has been around since 2015. They have teams in various esports titles, but have recently garnered a lot of attention due to their success in the 2021 LoL Championship Series (LCS). NRG’s LoL team turned many heads this year, finishing second place overall in the LCS. They also had one of the best records in the regular season, with a 13-5 win-loss ratio. NRG’s success in the LCS has catapulted them from being a team that was considered mid-tier or lower, to one that is now a top contender for international tournaments in the future.
Miller has been very vocal about his opinions on the international LoL schedule. He believes that the current system, which includes three major international tournaments (Mid-Season Invitational, Rift Rivals, and Worlds), doesn’t do justice to the various regions and their respective teams. The main issue he has with the current structure is that it doesn’t allow for enough cross-region play throughout the year. He argues that this type of play is necessary for the same reasons regular-season games are necessary – it allows players and teams to improve, cooperate, and set goals together. Miller has suggested the creation of a fourth international tournament, specifically to address this issue.
NRG’s success is not the only reason for Miller’s desire to revamp the LoL schedule. He and other esports enthusiasts have noted that the current structure puts too much pressure on teams during the three major international tournaments. Because these tournaments are the only opportunities for cross-region play, there’s a lot of expectation riding on each team’s participation. This can lead to underperformance or burnout as the pressure mount. Miller believes that adding a fourth tournament would allow for more balance and spread out some of the pressure building up throughout the year.
Miller’s proposal might be unorthodox, but it’s hard to argue that high-level, cross-region play would be anything but beneficial to the scene. Many people in the community are starting to voice their support for his idea, and some are even expanding on it, suggesting multiple smaller tournaments throughout the year. Overall, what Miller is advocating for is a greater emphasis on the growth and development of esports, particularly in LoL. He wants people to remember that esports is an evolving field, and having a stagnant international schedule is counterproductive to that growth.
Andy Miller’s call to revamp the international LoL schedule might signal an important turning point for the way esports tournaments are structured. His proposal for a fourth tournament has sparked discussion and debate amongst the community, with some suggesting small-scale tournaments instead. Regardless of the approach, it’s exciting that people are looking towards the future and considering ways to improve the esports scene. As fans of NRG Esports, we’re thrilled about their
