Circuito Desafiante Split 2 2026

Circuito Desafiante Split 2 2026

Overview

Circuito Desafiante (CD), commonly known as Circuitão, is Riot Games’ second-tier League of Legends competition in Brazil. It serves as the primary developmental and promotion pathway below the top-tier CBLOL (Brazilian League of Legends Championship). The 2026 Split 2 edition is the second split of the second season of the relaunched tournament (following its 2025 return), classified as an A-Tier event. It features 10 teams in an online format contested on the Brazil server.

Organized and operated by Riot Games (official website: https://www.riotgames.com/), the series provides competitive opportunities for academy squads of CBLOL franchises as well as independent organizations. Top performers earn prize money, retention for future splits, and paths toward CBLOL promotion tournaments. Sponsors have included B3. Broadcasts air primarily on Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/ltasul and https://www.twitch.tv/cblol), YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@LTASul), and related CBLOL/Kick channels.

History

Circuito Desafiante originally ran from 2015 to 2020 as Brazil’s Challenger Circuit, operating below CBLOL and offering direct promotion opportunities. Early editions featured varying numbers of teams (often 6 in later years of the original run) and mixed online/offline formats in cities such as São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. It was discontinued after 2020 and replaced by CBLOL Academy during the franchise era (2021–2024).

The league returned in 2025 under its original name and open format after regional restructuring in the Americas (including the temporary LTA merger and subsequent reversion). The relaunch positioned CD as the Tier 2 league feeding into LTA South / CBLOL pathways. The 2025 season consisted of two splits; 2026 marks the second full season of the revived circuit, with Split 1 completed and Split 2 underway (or in advanced stages as of mid-August 2026). Promotion/relegation via open qualifiers and promotion tournaments maintains accessibility for new organizations. Cumulative prize money across tracked editions exceeds $136,000 USD.

Format

The current format (used in 2026 splits) features 10 teams. The regular season is a single round-robin of best-of-one (Bo1) matches. The top six teams advance toward playoffs (with the top two often receiving byes or favorable seeding into later rounds). Teams finishing 5th–8th (or bottom four in some descriptions) contest a Play-In stage involving best-of-three (Bo3) matches and a last-chance best-of-five (Bo5) to determine the final playoff seeds (typically seeding the 5th and 6th playoff spots).

Playoffs use a double-elimination bracket. Matches are primarily Bo3 in early rounds and Bo5 in later stages (including finals), often under Fearless Draft rules. The last-place non-academy team typically faces a promotion tournament or open qualifier path for the next split. Qualification for CD itself occurs via prior split performance, academy affiliations, spot acquisitions/partnerships, and open/promotion qualifiers. The 2026 Split 2 regular season ran from 2026-07-20; playoffs extend toward a planned end date of 2026-09-14. All matches are online.

Prize distribution for recent splits (including 2026 Split 2 projections) is typically around R$120,000 BRL total, with 1st place receiving R$36,000 BRL (approximately $6,300–$7,000 USD depending on exchange rates), 2nd R$24,000 BRL, and decreasing amounts thereafter. Top finishers qualify for CBLOL promotion opportunities or secure spots in the following CD split.

Notable Editions

The 2025 relaunch splits were significant as they restored the historic Circuitão identity and open competitive structure after four years of the Academy system. 2025 Split 2 drew strong viewership interest, peaking near 100,000 concurrent viewers.

The 2026 Split 1 was notable for KaBuM! IDL’s perfect 9–0 regular season record before Keyd Stars Academy (Vivo Keyd Stars Academy / VKS Academy) staged a comeback to win the title 3–2 in the grand final. Estral Esports’ dominant undefeated regular-season run (9–0) in the ongoing 2026 Split 2 has been a highlight of the current edition. Historical editions from 2015–2020 produced future CBLOL talents and organizations such as paiN Gaming, RED Canids, KaBuM!, and INTZ affiliates.

Past Champions

• 2026 Split 1 (2026-03-30 to 2026-06-07 approx.): Keyd Stars Academy defeated KaBuM! IDL 3–2 in the grand final. Runner-up: KaBuM! IDL. Online, Brazil. Peak viewership ~83,327.
• 2025 Split 2 (2025-07-21 to 2025-09-10): Keyd Stars Academy defeated Alpha7 Esports. Prize pool ~$22,082 USD / R$120,000 BRL. Online/Brazil. Peak viewership 99,565.
• 2025 Split 1 (2025-03-17 to 2025-06-09): RED Academy defeated Keyd Stars Academy. Prize pool ~$21,500 USD. São Paulo / hybrid elements noted in some records.
• 2020 Split 2: RED Canids over Team oNe eSports. Prize ~$7,377 USD. Online.
• 2020 Split 1: Santos e-Sports over Team oNe eSports. Prize ~$6,830 USD. São Paulo.
• 2019 Split 2: ProGaming Esports over Keyd Stars. Prize ~$10,033 USD. São Paulo.
• 2019 Split 1: paiN Gaming over Team oNe eSports. Prize ~$10,163 USD. São Paulo.
• 2018 Split 2: Redemption Porto Alegre over paiN Gaming. Prize ~$9,729 USD. São Paulo.
• 2018 Split 1: Ilha da Macacada Gaming over Flamengo eSports. Prize ~$12,105 USD. Rio de Janeiro.
• 2017 Split 2: KaBuM! e-Sports over Iron Hawks. Prize ~$12,293 USD. Rio de Janeiro.
• 2017 Split 1: T Show over INTZ.Genesis. Prize ~$12,869 USD. Rio de Janeiro.
• Earlier 2015–2016 winners included JAYOB e-Sports, INTZ Red, Brave e-Sports, Big Gods, and others in larger fields.

As of the latest available data (mid-August 2026), 2026 Split 2 remains incomplete, with Estral Esports leading the regular season undefeated and playoffs upcoming; no champion has been crowned.

Viewership & Impact

Circuito Desafiante attracts solid regional audiences as Brazil’s key developmental league. 2025 Split 2 peaked at 99,565 concurrent viewers with over 3.26 million hours watched and an average of ~36,574 viewers. 2026 Split 1 reached a peak of 83,327 viewers (during the grand final), 2.94 million hours watched, and an average of ~34,566 viewers across ~85 hours of airtime. Series-wide peaks have approached or exceeded these figures.

Broadcast partners center on official Riot/CBLOL channels: Twitch (cblol and ltasul), YouTube (@LTASul and CBLOL), Kick, and Portuguese-language talent including casters such as Zero (Andrew Melo), Andrézão, Professor, and Fogueta. Coverage appears on lolesports.com (Portuguese: https://lolesports.com/pt-BR/leagues/cd).

Culturally, “Circuitão” holds strong significance in the Brazilian LoL ecosystem. It develops talent for CBLOL, maintains open pathways amid franchise systems, and engages a passionate fanbase through accessible competition, academy rivalries, and promotion drama. Its return in 2025 reinforced Brazil’s depth in the Americas region following LTA experiments. The league continues to serve as a vital stepping stone and community hub.