LCS Players Association Reportedly Voted to Cancel 2020 Spring Split Because “It Doesn’t Matter”
As the coronavirus pandemic worsens, a majority of North American pros have voted to cancel the remainder of the 2020 Spring Split.
Out of ninety pro players, around two-thirds voted to cancel the split due to a number of reasons including safety concerns related to the pandemic, imports wanting to return home, and that the spring split didn’t matter. The last reason has stirred up controversy in the esports community with notable figures such as Christopher “MonteCristo” Kjell Mykles commenting that the players’ lack of motivation continues to be the reason why North America performs poorly in international tournaments.
While there are definitely arguments players could make for cancelling the LCS Spring Split, the attitude of not playing because it “doesn’t matter” is one of the reasons NA LoL continues to be shit.
Owners should make at least 50% of LCS player salaries performance-based. https://t.co/KzkH2yB60I
FEATURED STORIES— MonteCristo (@MonteCristo) March 23, 2020
Despite North American players having one of the highest average player salaries across Riot’s leagues, the region has never made it to a Worlds Finals and has been underperforming in the past few years. The region’s work ethic has been called to attention now and then when compared to players from the LPL, LCK, and even the LEC who have proved themselves internationally in the Mid-Season Invitational 2019. The furthest a North American team has gone is when Team Liquid made the finals in MSI 2019 but were cleanly knocked out by G2 Esports 3-0.
Though as Travis Gafford reported, there are valid concerns of professional players wanting to cancel the split due to safety concerns. Furthermore, international players returning home will affect the competitive integrity of the league in the coming weeks. As national borders are closed and countries go on lockdown, players being able to return for the summer split raises questions into how LCS will continue as the year unfolds.
Since Week 8, the League of Legends Championship Series has moved to an online format to continue the spring split. Riot Games has yet to announce how Spring and Summer will start to look as the pandemic continues to spread in America and the rest of the world.
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