en
LRN Split 2 2026
Overview
The LRN Split 2 2026 (full name: Liga Regional Norte 2026 Split 2) is a professional League of Legends tournament serving as the second split of the 2026 season of the Liga Regional Norte (LRN). It is Riot Games' official Tier 2 competition for the Latin America North region, encompassing Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and Colombia. Organized by Riot Games in partnership with Liga ACE (also known as Liga ACE Esports or ACE Esports), it functions as a developmental and competitive pathway below higher-tier regional leagues, with top performers earning opportunities such as promotion pathways toward LCS-related events.
The event is classified as an A-Tier/regional online tournament with a total prize pool of $20,000 USD for the playoffs stage. It features eight teams in a regular season followed by a six-team playoff bracket. Broadcasts air primarily on Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/lolacelatam) and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@lolacelatam/live). Sponsors for the 2026 season have included La Botanera, Mega Chamoy, and Elgato. The series holds significance in the LATAM esports ecosystem by fostering regional talent and providing a structured ladder for teams aiming for international or major regional contention.
Liga ACE's official website is https://ligaaceesports.com/ (with related presence at https://ace-esports.com/).
History
The Liga Regional Norte (LRN) was created by Riot Games and the Liga de Videojuegos Profesional (LVP) on March 13, 2023, as a professional League of Legends competition specifically for Latin America North. It launched to fill the Tier 2/developmental role in the region following broader LATAM league restructurings. Early seasons featured formats with regular seasons, groups, and playoffs, often with prize pools in the tens of thousands of USD.
In its initial years under LVP, the league included a 2023 Closing season and playoffs, followed by a more consolidated 2024 season with regular season, groups, and playoffs. On February 14, 2025, LVP transferred organizational rights for both LRN and the companion Liga Regional Sur (LRS) to Liga ACE Esports, which has operated the leagues since, including the full 2025 and 2026 seasons in partnership with Riot Games.
The 2025 season marked the first under the new operator structure and introduced a clearer Split 1/Split 2 format aligned with Riot's broader Tier 2 systems (sometimes referenced under LTA Tier 2 frameworks). By 2026—the second full season under Liga ACE—the league continued this dual-split model, with Split 2 2026 serving as a key mid-to-late year event offering qualification paths (e.g., toward LCS 2027 Promotion for top finishers). Format evolution has included shifts toward best-of-three regular season matches, "Hard Fearless Draft" (champions pickable only once per series by either team), and double-elimination playoffs in Bo5. The league remains fully online.
Format
For LRN 2026 Split 2, eight teams compete. The regular season runs as a single round-robin with all matches best-of-three (Bo3) using Hard Fearless Draft rules. The top six teams advance to playoffs (with adjustments possible for forfeits or removals, as occurred with one team in 2026).
Playoffs feature a six-team double-elimination bracket. The top four seeds start in the upper bracket; all matches are best-of-five (Bo5) under Hard Fearless Draft. The regular season ran from 2026-07-04 to 2026-07-19 (online). Playoffs ran/scheduled from 2026-07-27 to 2026-09-07 (online). Qualification typically involves prior split performance, promotions, and open qualifiers or acquisitions of spots. Location is fully online, serving the Latin America North region (addressed as covering Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, and Mexico; region code often listed under NA for broader classification).
Prize distribution for the $20,000 USD playoffs pool (approximate shares based on reported structure): 1st $8,000 (40%) + LCS 2027 Promotion qualification; 2nd $4,000 (20%) + LCS 2027 Promotion; 3rd $3,000 (15%); 4th $2,400 (12%); 5th–6th $1,600 each (8%). Regular season standings determine seeding but do not always carry separate prize money.
Notable Editions
The 2023 Closing Playoffs stand out as the inaugural major climax, crowning Saprissa Esports and establishing the league's competitive identity with a $32,000 prize pool. The 2024 Playoffs, won by Fuego over PÊEK Gaming for a $35,700 pool (part of a broader ~$61,150 season total), highlighted Fuego's early dominance and higher prize scales under LVP.
The 2025 Split 2 Playoffs were notable for SDM Tigres' victory over Estral Esports ($20,000 pool), marking a strong showing in the first full Liga ACE era and linking to LTA North promotion paths. In 2026, Split 1 saw Fuego complete a dominant run (regular season 7-0 and playoffs title over G3V E-sports). Split 2 2026 itself has been memorable for Zeu5 Esports' perfect 7-0 regular season record, Fuego's strong contention, mid-season roster/spot changes (e.g., Kits Esports acquiring Cupid Esports' spot; 3v Team merger notes; NCG Esports' removal on July 21, 2026, after three forfeits, with the next eligible team taking the playoff spot), and ongoing playoffs featuring upper-bracket strength from Fuego and Zeu5.
These editions underscore the league's role in regional rivalries, talent development (including academy sides like LYON Academy), and adaptation to operator changes.
Past Champions
Champions are primarily determined by playoff winners (regular season leaders noted where relevant). Key results include:
- 2023 Closing Playoffs (2023-07-16 to 2023-08-19, $32,000): Saprissa Esports defeated Fuego. Regular season Closing leader: Bandits Gaming.
- 2024 Playoffs (2024-06-23 to 2024-07-27, $35,700): Fuego defeated PÊEK Gaming. Regular season leader: Fuego; Groups stage: PÊEK Gaming.
- 2025 Split 1 Playoffs (approx. 2025-05-12 to 2025-06-03, $20,000): Fuego defeated INFINITY. Regular season leader: Zeu5 Esports.
- 2025 Split 2 Playoffs (2025-08-10 to 2025-09-08, $20,000): SDM Tigres defeated Estral Esports. Regular season leader: Estral Esports.
- 2026 Split 1 Playoffs (2026-04-20 to 2026-06-08, $20,000): Fuego defeated G3V E-sports ($10,000 to winner). Regular season: Fuego (7-0).
- 2026 Split 2 (regular season 2026-07-04 to 2026-07-19): Zeu5 Esports (7-0 series, 14-3 games) over Fuego (6-1). Playoffs (2026-07-27 to 2026-09-07, $20,000): Ongoing/TBD as of latest available data (upper bracket featured Fuego 3-0 over Kits Esports; other matches TBD/pending). Top regular season teams also included 3v Team (5-2), Kits Esports (3-4), with lower seeds SDM Tigres, LYON Academy, and Polar Squad Esports (0-7).
Fuego has been the most successful organization across multiple titles and deep runs. Prize pools have stabilized around $20,000 per split playoffs in the ACE era (higher in some earlier LVP events). Exact locations for all were online.
Viewership & Impact
Viewership for LRN events is modest compared to major regions but meaningful for a Tier 2 LATAM league, supporting regional engagement and talent pipelines. For LRN 2026 Split 2 (primarily regular season data), peak concurrent viewers reached 2,279 (on 2026-07-20), with 46,759 hours watched, an average of 1,383 viewers, and approximately 34 hours of airtime. For comparison, 2026 Split 1 recorded a peak of 3,417 viewers, 67,156 hours watched, and an average of 984.
Broadcast partners center on the official LoL ACE LATAM channels (Twitch and YouTube). The league contributes to the broader LATAM esports ecosystem by developing players and organizations for higher competition, providing promotion/relegation or qualification opportunities (e.g., toward LCS pathways or LTA structures), and maintaining consistent competitive calendars. Cultural significance lies in representing Northern LATAM voices in a Spanish-language broadcast environment, with casters and talent such as Edwin "Drago" Playas, Camila "Mila" Valenzuela, and others. It helps sustain grassroots-to-pro pathways amid regional league evolutions. Overall series prize money across editions has exceeded $169,000 USD cumulatively in reported figures.